Anyone been bitten by a Sydney Funnel-web spider?

Question

I'm wondering how many people are bitten yearly in Australia by Funnel-webs? Does one often encounter these critters? If bitten, how fast do you have to get to a doctor for anti-venom? And finally, where are they more prevalent: in Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane? Thanks for any answers guys, I'm trying to assess my odds and mentally prepare myself for our holiday in Aus. I am a bit of an arachnophobe...

Answer 1

because of urbanisation and building it won't be a common sighting- spiders are also very shy- as far as I know funnel webs are very poisonous and you would need to be attended to within 20 minutes.

Answer 2

They are pretty rare

I have lived in sydney for 17 years and i havent seen one yet

Answer 3

Mostly in Sydney.. But you will never see one.. I've never seen one in my life, I'm 19.. so thats a long time lol .



Dont worry about the spiders..They hide, and you wont see spiders very often. SInce you're staying in Sydney, and not the bush.. then you wont get bitten by a spider at all.

Its probably a 1 in a million chance you'll see one.

Answer 4

There have been only 26 deaths in the last 100 years from these spiders.  You are much more likely to die in a plane crash on the way there than to even see one of these.  If you do, just don't pick it up.  It's not like they live in hotel rooms or come after you when they see you.

They are most prevalent in Sydney.  So much so that there is a species called the Sydney Funnel-Web Spider.

Also, bizarrely enough, the correct term for what they use to treat these bites is "antivenin".  I have no idea who came up with that name when "antivenom" makes so much more sense, but the former is correct.

Answer 5

You don't need to worry.  If you are smart you will probably not even see one.  (You have more chance of being bitten by a redback spider... but even that is unlikely.)  My grandfather (in law) just got bitten by a funnelweb spider but thankfully no poison was injected.  The thing is - he does silly things like pushing seedlings UNDER rocks... not very smart!  And my Mother in law got bitten by a St Andrews Cross spider recently - but they live on acreage out in the middle of nowhere - and it's the first time in 50 years that she has been bitten!  It is definately not common and usually you will only be bitten if you are being silly.

Answer 6

I have lived in Sydney all my life and never seen a funnel web spider, however if bitten seek medical attention immediately. Don't believe all the hype you hear about spiders in Australia you have to be very unlucky indeed to be bitten by one. Enjoy yourself.

Answer 7

Okay, relax the last person to die from a FWeb spider was last year or the year before that, and before that it was back in 1953, so the odds of being bitten are slim. You have more chance of being hit by a meteor, FWeb spider is found all along the east coast of Australia, they live underground and only move outside while it is both night time and it is raining / wet,  they cannot live in a environment that is completely dry, they can sit on the bottom of a swimming pool for upto 4 days without the need to surface for air. If you are bitten and are young and healthy you could live for serveral hours before death, if you have a heart problem, or are old and get bitten than I hope the Ambulance is super quick as you could die in as little as 10 to 20 minutes or less. On the plus side unless you go looking for spiders under logs etc, you will never see them or be bothered by them. FWeb spiders can Not jump but people think they can jump. Anyway enjoy your aussie holiday and put the spiders out of your mind. by the way we have snakes too but that is anther story.

Answer 8

I live in aus, and where i live is ment to be covered in them. But i have only seen one in the house. There isnt many people who have been bitten by them. You rarly hear about someone dying from a funnel web. But just incase always shakes ur shoes and clothes before putting them on. They love dark places. If you do find one, dont try to kill it cause they do chase you. Honestly. It did to me. So just try to stay of of their way.

But other than that you will be fine. i dont see many of them. So i dont think you will even see one on your trip.

Here is a fact sheet that may help.

http://www.austmus.gov.au/factsheets/fun...

I hope you enjoy aus and  I hope this helps