Scrutineer Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Hi all , when you have been in Australia a while you will realize red backs are no threat. Not dangerous and tend to build messy webs where they can. They are not wanderers and honestly they become part of your life in Australia. I live in Perth ( loads here) we all live together in harmony but they are rarely found inside. Just teach your children to not route in pots or cob web areas without supervision. It's common sense really. Oh and now the hot weather has hit keep your kids out of coastal sand dunes for goodness sake. Snakes love these dunes and kids should not be running about in them . ( silly mother the other day thinking it was cool letting her child run a muck in there.) idiot. Happy Christmas all Not sure if the dunes thing is purely coincidental or responding to my comment but we have great boardwalk going through ours so don't need to enter them, which would be stupid as I have seen brown snakes in them. Official advice is to remove redbacks from your property, usually by killing them, and this is because while some people do not react to their bites, others react very badly, especially young children, and redbacks are responsible for more antivenom being given than any other creature in Australia, biting 10,000 people per year. Its envenomation is neurotoxic and potentially fatal for children. Also sometimes there can be severe allergic reaction, including anaphylactic shock to the antivenom. That is why advice is to kill them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Not sure if the dunes thing is purely coincidental or responding to my comment but we have great boardwalk going through ours so don't need to enter them, which would be stupid as I have seen brown snakes in them. Official advice is to remove redbacks from your property, usually by killing them, and this is because while some people do not react to their bites, others react very badly, especially young children, and redbacks are responsible for more antivenom being given than any other creature in Australia, biting 10,000 people per year. Its envenomation is neurotoxic and potentially fatal for children. Also sometimes there can be severe allergic reaction, including anaphylactic shock to the antivenom. That is why advice is to kill them. nobody has died from a redback spider bite in well over 50 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrutineer Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 nobody has died from a redback spider bite in well over 50 years. That is correct, yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 nobody has died from a redback spider bite in well over 50 years. It's a good thing they have anti-venom. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 I'll probably squash any red backs that try and mess with me but I'll leave the Harry huntsmans well alone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzukiscottie Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 I'm more concerned about white-tails; nasty little b*ggers! At least red backs will leave you alone if you leave them alone. White tails roam wherever they like and can give you a nasty surprise anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelensvaleHoward Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 Deal with every meeting on its merits Some you spray some you don't Do what you think best for your family If worried then kill then not worried anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mygirlies Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 Ive just (this evening) found a funnel web spider on my back door. I went overkill with the spray but it scurried off. Hopefully it has shrivelled up in a corner somewhere and is no longer alive!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzukiscottie Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 I've heard that if at all possible then it's best to pour boiling water on funnel web spiders and white tails. Obviously depends on the spiders location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roborac Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 I think more harm can be done to you by using all these awful sprays than the remote chance you are going to be bitten by an insect We have been hear 32 years and I have only had one spider bite ,and that was weeding into deep foliage without any protection on my hands , Not sprays, but gardening gloves. I really think in years down the track we will be hearing how dangerous insecticides are and people will be suffering with using them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.