Up to 3,750 female fen raft spiders believed to be at 12 sites across the UK now

The UK’s largest breed of spiders, which can grow to the size of rats and hunts fish, are making a comeback in Britain.

From near-extinction in 2010 - when only a handful remained as their wetland homes were destroyed by humans - the number of fen raft spiders are now steadily increasing thanks to recent conservation efforts.

The spiders are set to have their best year on record at nature reserves ran by RSBP.

The conservation charity revealed that the most recent survey estimates the total number of female spiders to be up to 3,750 across 12 sites in Norfolk and Suffolk Broads alone.

The spider can spin a web as large as 25cm and can grow to the size of a man’s hand.

  • Llamatron@lemmy.worldEnglish
    61·
    1 month ago

    I’m sorry what? We have a native spider the size of a rat? Why did I not know this. This is important information.

    I am never leaving the house again.

  • bizarroland@fedia.io
    26·
    1 month ago

    This is going to be really great for my next level one restart. I’m going to be able to get so much xp as soon as I get my hands on a dagger and a clumsily constructed wooden shield.

  • j4yt33@feddit.orgEnglish
    17·
    1 month ago

    Wikipedia says “70 mm including the legs” btw. So not even close to the size of a rat

  • ns1@feddit.ukEnglish
    15·
    1 month ago

    Always uplifting to see a struggling native species doing well. Hope I get to see one of these beauties up close one day, shame they are still limited to just a few locations.

  • apotheotic (she/her)@beehaw.orgEnglish
    14·
    1 month ago

    That’s so nice! I’m so happy for them! Is there a map of exactly where they’re making a comeback so I can avoid those places particularly!

  • 10_0@lemmy.mlEnglish
    10·
    1 month ago

    I have a large garden spider in my house, me and it have a policy, out of sight out of deaths reach. If a spider the size of that thumbnail enters my house, there will be no places to hide, I will kos. Besides there are no rats here only flies.

    • bizarroland@fedia.io
      2·
      1 month ago

      Up until recently I had cedar roofing and when I pulled it off there were so many spiders that got unhomed. I felt bad about that especially since I put a metal roof on and there’s nowhere for them to hide now.

      The spiders got their revenge though because after I unhomed all of the spiders that were protecting my house I started getting ants or the occasional bug here or there.

      Fortunately, the spiders have now moved under my decks and into the cedar siding on the house and they are once again protecting my house from unwanted pests.

      I love me some spiders, I don’t want to touch them I don’t want to deal with them but when I see them hanging out I’m like cool thanks for taking care of the place my friend.

    • Mex@feddit.ukEnglish
      3·
      30 days ago

      a power struggle between the spiders and rats begins, with each slowly growing bigger to outpower each other, years pass and we have dog sized spider and rats, and dog kind joins in… a few years later we have cow sized spiders,rats, and dogs… it never ends.

      • pseudo@jlai.luEnglish
        3·
        30 days ago

        And one day if rats and spiders breed, I will be remember in History as the personn who reintroduce dragons in my country 😨

      • pseudo@jlai.luEnglish
        2·
        30 days ago

        Well if it can eat rats, I might try to introduce this specie in my niehbourhood.