Summer Safety: Snakes and spiders, oh my!

The Illawarra has plenty of spectacular scenery to get out and enjoy over summer, but people aren’t the only creatures who are more active when it’s warm.

Snakes and spiders are about in bushland across the region, and while most of us don’t want an up close and personal encounter, we have to respect that this is their home too.

Plus, they’re part of what makes our patch of the world unique.

We spoke to some experts about how to (safely) appreciate the other creatures that call the Illawarra home.

Dane Trembath is the herpetology collection manager at the Australian Museum.

He said the best way to avoid an encounter with an angry snake in the bush was to stick to well-trodden paths.

“Most bites happen when people try to catch or kill a snake,” he said.

“We are hundreds of times bigger than the snakes in our area; they don’t see us as a prey item.

“They tend to get out of your way. If they can’t, they will sit still and rely on their camouflage.”

When bushwalking, it’s best to wear long pants and proper shoes, just in case you step on a snoozing snake.

The vast majority of snakes in our region have fangs less than 1 cm in length, which isn’t going to do much against a sturdy boot.

If you spot one, Dane said the best approach is to watch it quietly until it slithers away – or walk in the opposite direction.

“Snakes are an amazing part of our ecosystem everyone should enjoy if they see one,” he said.

“There’s lots to learn about them. They’re a lot smarter than people think, they smell by using their tongue to pick up scent particles in the air, and they’re deaf.

“We are very lucky in Australia to have a great diversity of snakes, and people are slowly starting to understand them more.”

While snakes aren’t everyone’s favourite animal, they probably get a little more love than the spider.

Co-ordinator of the Australian Spiders Identification Facebook page, Ben Shoard completed his master’s on funnel-webs.

About half a dozen types of funnel-webs can be found across the Illawarra, and our region even has its own unique variant, Illawarra wisharti.

“They like moist areas; they like soil; they don’t want to live halfway up your wall,” Ben said.

“Sometimes people confuse them with house spiders, who do nest in your house and their nests often have a bit of a tunnel, but it’s much less tidy.

“Funnel-webs won’t come into your house deliberately, but occasionally a male looking for a female might wander in and can’t get out.”

The only other spiders in the Illawarra that can cause serious harm to people are mouse spiders and redbacks.

“They won’t bite you unless you poke them in the face,” Ben said.

“It’s painful and worth going to hospital for, but no-one has died from redback bite since the 1950s and no-one has died from funnel-web since 1981.”

Once again your best bet is heavy clothing when you’re out in the bush or garden.

All of the spiders in the Illawarra have fangs of less than 1 cm, so a good pair of boots and gloves should provide plenty of protection.

After that, common sense should protect you from a nasty nip.

“You’re more at risk of skin cancer than a snake or spider bite,” Ben said.

“Don’t put your hands or feet where you can’t see, don’t put your hands in random holes, and if you are inclined to lift rocks or logs, lift it towards you so anything underneath would have to go around it to get to you. It gives them the option to run away.

“If you do see random burrows don’t stick digits or anything biteable in there.

“If you’re going anywhere out of phone service a personal locator beacon is pricey, but less pricey than not having one when you need it.”

If you’d like to try your hand at spider spotting Ben said you could be surprised by the rewards.

“Spiders have more or less kept the same form for millennia but also found a way to fill almost every niche,” he said.

“The Illawarra escarpment is chock-a-block with wildlife and it’s worth taking the time to see some things.

“Shine your torch out over the lawn at night – you can look for the little reflective eyes.

“Getting up close to a spider isn’t appealing to everyone, but they have some nice patterns if you take the time to look from a safe distance. Their longest strike is a few inches.”

If you’re on the hunt for the Insta-famous peacock spider, however, you might be disappointed.

They are found in the Illawarra, but at two to three millimetres long they’re almost impossible to spot.

If you are bitten by a snake or spider, follow the advice from St John’s ambulance – apply a compression bandage, stay still, and call for help to come to you.

“Don’t ask for advice on Facebook; if you feel unwell or are concerned, seek medical advice,” Ben said.

“It’s worth taking care not to put yourself in a position to be bitten, but it’s not worth missing out on things you enjoy because you’re worried about it.”