Mum unknowingly encounters enormous huntsman spider while feeding possum
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Content Warning: This story discusses themes that may trigger arachnophobia. Please be advised.
Living alongside native wildlife is just a fact of life for many Australian families.
However, one Aussie mum got more than she bargained for during a backyard encounter with a possum.
Bianca Jayne was happily feeding apples to a possum under her veranda one evening.
The tiny little fella could be seen perched on a wooden beam, looking like it was all ready for a friendly yarn.
Perhaps taken in by the cuteness of the possum, Bianca handed it an apple.
‘Please don’t eat me,’ she said as she cautiously handed it the sweet morsel.
Once the possum took it, Bianca uttered a relieved-sounding ‘Good boy!’
The possum dropped the apple a couple of times, which led Bianca to pick it up each time and repeat handing it over.
It appears Bianca then gave the possum another apple and then decided to place her right hand palm side up to catch the apple should the possum lose its grip again.
By this point, the clip is really just another video of a cute possum eating (with delightful crunching noises as it munches on the apples)... up until a flash of motion springs just below the wooden beam the possum is perched on!
Focused on the cute marsupial, she didn't notice the huge huntsman spider stealthily creeping up just inches from her hand.
‘You are so cute,’ Bianca said, chuckling while oblivious to the sizeable spider in full view of the camera.
Her close encounter was caught on video, which has now been viewed a whopping 5.1 million times on social media.
The mum pointed out that she did not notice the spider until after she re-watched the video.
You can watch Bianca’s full video below. But consider this our last warning, as the video may trigger arachnophobia.
Source: TikTok/@biancajayne97.
Huntsman spiders are the stuff of nightmares for some of us, and they’ve quite famously (maybe infamously?) been in the conversation when it comes to Australia’s global reputation of being home to all animals weird and wonderful.
After all, considering the sizes at which they can grow—up to 15cm wide, legs included for some species—it’s no wonder they can give even the most bravest of us reason to pause!
Huntsman spiders are nocturnal creatures, more likely to be spotted during night hours when they emerge from their hiding spots to hunt for their prey.
Interestingly, despite their ferocious name, these formidable arachnids are not known to build webs. Instead, they are nomadic hunters who prefer to ambush their prey—usually insects, small lizards, and frogs.
Named for their hunting prowess, huntsman spiders possess the speed and agility to quickly overrun their victims. They exhibit an interesting blend of aggression and timidity in their behaviour. While they are fearless hunters, they are exceedingly shy when it comes to human contact, often choosing to flee over engaging.
Their preferred habitats are fascinating too. In the wild, they typically make their home under loose bark on trees, in crevices and among rocks.
However, in suburban settings, they’re often found in the corners of houses, garages, and sheds, providing an unexpected fright or an exciting natural spectacle.
Contrary to some people’s fears, huntsman spiders are not aggressive towards humans unless threatened. Their venom poses little threat to us, and they're unlikely to bite unless cornered or provoked.
They're one of nature’s pest controllers, keeping down local populations of insects and other small critters, making them very useful to have around despite their intimidating appearance.
All things considered, these spiders, although large and quick, are yet another impressive example of Australia's varied array of native wildlife.
Members, have you encountered a huntsman spider in your own home? Share your experience with us in the comments below!
Living alongside native wildlife is just a fact of life for many Australian families.
However, one Aussie mum got more than she bargained for during a backyard encounter with a possum.
Bianca Jayne was happily feeding apples to a possum under her veranda one evening.
The tiny little fella could be seen perched on a wooden beam, looking like it was all ready for a friendly yarn.
Perhaps taken in by the cuteness of the possum, Bianca handed it an apple.
‘Please don’t eat me,’ she said as she cautiously handed it the sweet morsel.
Once the possum took it, Bianca uttered a relieved-sounding ‘Good boy!’
A mum unknowingly had a close encounter with a huntsman spider in her backyard. Image source: TikTok/@biancajayne97.
The possum dropped the apple a couple of times, which led Bianca to pick it up each time and repeat handing it over.
It appears Bianca then gave the possum another apple and then decided to place her right hand palm side up to catch the apple should the possum lose its grip again.
By this point, the clip is really just another video of a cute possum eating (with delightful crunching noises as it munches on the apples)... up until a flash of motion springs just below the wooden beam the possum is perched on!
Focused on the cute marsupial, she didn't notice the huge huntsman spider stealthily creeping up just inches from her hand.
‘You are so cute,’ Bianca said, chuckling while oblivious to the sizeable spider in full view of the camera.
Her close encounter was caught on video, which has now been viewed a whopping 5.1 million times on social media.
The mum pointed out that she did not notice the spider until after she re-watched the video.
You can watch Bianca’s full video below. But consider this our last warning, as the video may trigger arachnophobia.
Source: TikTok/@biancajayne97.
Huntsman spiders are the stuff of nightmares for some of us, and they’ve quite famously (maybe infamously?) been in the conversation when it comes to Australia’s global reputation of being home to all animals weird and wonderful.
After all, considering the sizes at which they can grow—up to 15cm wide, legs included for some species—it’s no wonder they can give even the most bravest of us reason to pause!
Huntsman spiders are nocturnal creatures, more likely to be spotted during night hours when they emerge from their hiding spots to hunt for their prey.
Interestingly, despite their ferocious name, these formidable arachnids are not known to build webs. Instead, they are nomadic hunters who prefer to ambush their prey—usually insects, small lizards, and frogs.
Named for their hunting prowess, huntsman spiders possess the speed and agility to quickly overrun their victims. They exhibit an interesting blend of aggression and timidity in their behaviour. While they are fearless hunters, they are exceedingly shy when it comes to human contact, often choosing to flee over engaging.
Their preferred habitats are fascinating too. In the wild, they typically make their home under loose bark on trees, in crevices and among rocks.
However, in suburban settings, they’re often found in the corners of houses, garages, and sheds, providing an unexpected fright or an exciting natural spectacle.
Contrary to some people’s fears, huntsman spiders are not aggressive towards humans unless threatened. Their venom poses little threat to us, and they're unlikely to bite unless cornered or provoked.
They're one of nature’s pest controllers, keeping down local populations of insects and other small critters, making them very useful to have around despite their intimidating appearance.
All things considered, these spiders, although large and quick, are yet another impressive example of Australia's varied array of native wildlife.
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