A massive rescue spider is sending shivers down the internet’s spine. Regardless of how chaotic things get politically, it seems few Americans are eager to move to Australia—the land where nightmares come alive, and bugs the size of small mammals roam free. Once again, this continent of fears has solidified its reputation with a viral tale of yet another colossal spider sighting. Prepare to activate the fetal position and maybe stock up on some calming meds.
About a year ago, The Critter Sanctuary in Brisbane Valley, Qld, rescued a gigantic spider that someone wanted to eliminate (because, of course). This spider was relocated to the farm, where it now cohabitates with other rescued animals. A photo of this creature has resurfaced and is taking the internet by storm, because why not? This eight-legged panic-inducer goes by the name of Charlotte, a Huntsman spider.
Is “Huntsman” Just Australian Slang for “Nope, Not Today?”
Because wow. Your first instinct is likely to scream “NO!” or ponder why a spider of this size even exists in the grand scheme of nature. Unfortunately, there are no divine answers to these burning questions, but The Critter Sanctuary is trying to spin it positively.
“She’s a calm and beautiful spider, not aggressive at all. Like most spiders, she just wants to munch on bugs and live peacefully. There’s no need to harm her! Poor spiders are often misunderstood!” they say, trying to paint Charlotte as harmless. But remember last month’s viral video of a Huntsman spider dragging away a dead mouse?
A spider. Carrying a whole mouse. How does that ever scream “harmless” to anyone?
Researching the Huntsman
After conducting some research post that horrifying video, we learned these eight-legged fiends not only hunt their prey but can sprint at nearly a yard per second—far too quick for comfort. They can grow to the size of a dinner plate, and while Charlotte is an unusually large specimen, most Huntsman spiders average about five inches across. A quick glance suggests Charlotte’s dimensions are likely double that.
Hold me.
To justify why Charlotte deserves a loving home, we found that Huntsman spiders feast on bugs and occasionally drag around dead mice for fun. So while her appearance is sure to haunt our dreams, at least she won’t be the one to take us out in our sleep—just maybe creep across our faces at night while hunting bugs.
Okay, okay, I’m slowly putting down my blow torch. We can let her live. As The Critter Sanctuary states, “Every creature, big or small, is welcome here—no matter what you look like!” As long as Charlotte stays on the farm (or, frankly, in Australia), we’re good. But let’s keep some gasoline and matches handy, just in case.
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Conclusion
In summary, a gigantic spider named Charlotte has taken the internet by storm after being rescued in Australia. While she might look terrifying, the sanctuary caring for her claims she’s harmless. However, given the species’ reputation, many remain skeptical about sharing space with such a massive arachnid.