Rain drives funnel-webs out in Illawarra

But if you come across one of the eight-legged creatures, don't squash it: it could help save a life.

Julie Mendezona, from Symbio Wildlife Park, said funnel-webs' burrows would have been flooded in the wet weather event of the past week and they would have been forced out.

Read more: Funnel-web spiders in high demand

But she said these hairy spiders were actually quite good at surviving in water: they had lungs outside their body and could breathe through the air bubbles trapped in their hair.

While there were more than 40 species, Ms Mendezona said it was the Sydney funnel-web of most interest.

Australian Reptile Park milks these spiders for their venom to create antivenom, which could save the life of a person who receives a bite from one.

Symbio Wildlife Park acts as a drop-off point for the spiders, where people can bring them to be transferred to Australian Reptile Park.

Without people collecting the spiders, Ms Mendezona said, it was hard to get enough venom.

Since the introduction of antivenom in 1981, there have been no reported human deaths from a funnel-web bite.

Ms Mendezona encouraged those who could safely catch a funnel-web to do so and take it to Symbio.

Read more: Shark warning as whale washes ashore in Kiama

Symbio recommends using a long stick, ruler or other similar object to gently encourage the spider inside a secure container - plastic is recommended.

In good news for those a little frightened of the spider, Ms Mendezona said funnel-webs were incapable of jumping.

She also said the park collected other spiders, too, so if someone was unsure if the spider was a funnel-web, their efforts would not go to waste.

For more information, visit the Symbio Wildlife Park website.

Australian Wildlife Park urges people to take the following steps:

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.