Posted on 12/11/2014 8:45:18 PM PST by Morgana
FULL TITLE: ‘This is why we check our shoes’: The horrifying pictures of spiders in footwear, children’s trampolines and car seats that are turning U.S. travellers off Australia
Emerging from shoes, lying undetected in toilets, waiting patiently in cars and on walls, native wildlife has earned Australia the tag of a country brimming with deadly creatures.
In many cases, this reputation is well-earned, with countless cases of bites, stings, and close encounters with the nation's creepiest of crawlies.
Images of the poisonous and many-legged creatures have started to pack a frightful punch overseas, with many US citizens expressing their fear of travelling to Australia because of what they might find hidden in their shoes.
WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT
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But tarantula don’t bite.. we let them crawl all over us as kids.
Typical in AZ and NM as well.
I recall the time paint the eaves on our shack of a cabin. Reaching underneath and not really looking, knocked a big spider off with the paint brush.
I saw it on the ground with the white paint on it. Was wondering whether to get down off the ladder to kill it - but figured it was fine. Then thought maybe the paint would end up killing it slowly - so should put it out of it’s misery. But still too lazy to get down off the ladder. But thinking “now it will probably haunt me.”
The next morning putting on my boots I tipped one over and gave it a couple of shakes. Out pops that spider with the white paint! Up the 5 feet of open steps, into the cabin, and into MY pair of boots.
Spooky! (I did finish it off then.)
I let the spiders hang out in my basement and office to eat the various bugs. The kids don’t care for them upstairs in their rooms though!
I bet the pets would go hysterical over those
Never leave shoes outside in Australia. - Also if I have left work gloves or overalls in the shed I always do the Mexican hat dance on top of them before wearing. Have saved myself 2 redback bites doing so.
Under every pot plant rim there will be one or two redbacks so you have to be careful moving them - under every piece of garden furniture as well and you can’t leave kids toys outside or they will end up with them in them as well. - still they don’t come in the house so as long as you are careful they are alright.
My basic rule of thumb is if it’s not one of my beloved little wolf spider buddies, I’m going after it with the 12 gauge if I have to.
DIE SMASH STOMP BURN DIE!
Yeah as far as I know there are three kinds of wolf spiders.
The little bitty adorable ones, the medium size inch size ones, and Godzilla.
If you ever see one of the big ones which are about 3 inches not including the legs, it’s like Lord, why did you even make such a horrible creature!?
Yeah - the wolf spiders eat the Hobo Spiders around here. Although I guess the verdict is that the Hobo may not be as bad of a bite as feared.
I have a pretty strong stomach;
those pics were beyond gross.
the person with the brown recluse bit on the thumb — bye, bye thumb.
I have been bitten twice by those little sob’s, once on the hand and once on the neck. Interesting scars.
Have also been bitten by a black widow; I don’t recommend it.
If it weren’t were bad luck, I’d have none at all as the old saying says.
If I didn’t have a fear of spiders before; I might very well have one now.
Those are the most idiotic house shoes I have ever seen.
must be a biologist (spider specialist I’d bet).
If I saw one on me, the first thing is a blood curdling scream. Then shaking it off.
Then looking for it to kill it.
I used to live on Scorpion Hill in Miami,Arizona. It’s now a ghost town.
When I’d drive up the hill, you could see the tarantulas crossing the street from quite a long way.
You have a good e-name to address that type of situation; BunnySlippers. “Wap! goes the wabbit”
LOL!
Peruvian peep toes?
Do the spiders need socks with those shoes?
If I ever find Boehner in my shoes, I will be more than happy to smush him.
manuka wound honey. will save your skin.
some insects creep people out more than others. we all have certrain ones that really bother us.
I’m still getting over a brown recluse bite. As bad as it was, I have seen way worse pictures online. I got “lucky.”
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