Australian Spiders - Don't Get Bitten!

Being bitten by a spider, even a non-poisonous- Use care whenever you move items out of any
one, can be a scary event and this is particularlystorage areas. Spiders like to hide under the
true when the bite is from a poisonous spider.folded flaps on cardboard boxes.
Many people do not realize that most spider bites- Use caution whenever you carry boxes as you
can be avoided just by exercising a little bit ofcould put your finger on a spider when you pick
care.the box up
Be sure to teach your children to take these- Use care not to press a spider next to your
same precautions that an adult would. No child isbody when you carry any boxes.
too young to begin understanding to be careful.- Never stack wood against your house. Spiders
Here are some examples of things that you canlove woodpiles and if they find a home inside
do to minimize your risk of being bitten by awood stacked next to your house; there is a
spider:good possibility that they could wander inside your
- Do not leave your clothes or towels lying allhome.
over the place anywhere inside or outside.- Always be sure to stack wood up off of the
- Do not throw your clothes on the floor and thenground and then cover the wood with a tarp.
put them on the next day. If this is something- Whenever you pick up any wood you should
that you do then you need to shake them wellalways be sure to wear gloves.
first or squish them before you put them on.- Always wear gloves whenever you are doing
- Always make sure to shake out your boots orany gardening.
shoes every time before you put them on.- Always be sure to check your gloves for
- In the house you should use sticky traps inspiders. You can stomp on your gloves, which will
order to trap spiders that come indoors.squash any spiders that may be in them.
- Get rid of spiders by vacuuming well and often.- Never walk around at night with bare feet.
Then get rid of the bag.- Always make sure to keep your anti-insect
- Clean up any junk that is lying around. Spidersscreens closed whenever you leave your
love clutter as it gives them nice places to hide.windows and/or your doors open.
- Spiders prefer to live between or under items- Never touch any spider that looks like it may
like cardboard, tarps and plywood that is settinghave drowned. This is especially true of
on the ground so get rid of these itemsfunnel-web spiders, as they are very aggressive.
whenever possible.Funnel-web spiders can actually look as if they
- Get rid of bed skirts from your beds.have drowned when they really are alive.
- Move your bed a few inches away from the- When you work in crawl spaces be sure to
wall.wear protective clothing, These include wearing
- Eliminate everything from under your bed. Thislong sleeves and tucking them into your gloves.
way the only way that any spider can get onWear long pants and tuck them into your boots.
your bed would be for them to crawl up one ofYou can also wear coveralls or wear a jacket
the legs of the bed.that has a hood. Place rubber bands over your
- Store small items in something that you can sealpant legs and shirt sleeves
tight. Seal them in plastic containers or plastic bags-Do not ever place your bare hands in any place
that you close tight with a zipper lock or use athat you are unable to see clearly to be sure that
twist-tie. This is particularly important for whenthere are not any spiders present.
you store items that you put your hands or feetBy using some caution and following the tips listed
into such as raingear, baseball gloves, roller blades,here you should be able to drastically reduce your
gardening gloves or boots.chances of being bitten by any spiders. Always be
- If you store things in cardboard boxes be suresure that if you suspect that you may have been
to tape up the edges so there is no way that abitten by a poisonous spider that you seek
spider could get inside.medical attention immediately.