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If you saw a huge and deadly funnel-shaped spider sitting on her egg sac, your first instinct might be to run away.

But the Australian Reptile Park in New South Wales is urging residents in nearby Sydney to quell that fear, stay calm and carefully collect the spider and its eggs in a safe container so they can be used to make antivenom that could save lives.

Funnel webs, the most dangerous species of which live in and around Sydney, are known for their deadly, fast-acting venom. Before the introduction of antivenom in 1981, 13 people died from funnel-shaped stings. Since its introduction, there have been no deaths.

The Australian Reptile Park publishes this to call to the public every November, when the spider breeding season begins, and highlights its importance in saving lives. The zoo is the sole supplier of funnel web spider antivenom, which it produces by treating collected spiders.

“With breeding season approaching and the weather creating ideal conditions, we are relying on spider donations more than ever,” zoo spider keeper Emma Teni said in a statement. “Male funnel-web spiders have a short lifespan, and with around 150 spiders needed to make a single bottle of antivenom, we need the public’s help to ensure we have enough venom to respond on demand.”

The spiders frequent cool, damp areas with dense foliage, although the zoo warned that they can also be found in homes, particularly in places like piles of laundry, shoes left outside, swimming pools and debris in the gardens.

In videos Posted on the organization’s social media platforms, Teni demonstrates how to collect funnel web safely, using a long spoon to carefully scoop it into a jar.

“We want to encourage the spider with its egg sac to enter the pot in one motion, trying not to make it so angry that it destroys the egg sac,” Teni explains in the video.

Each egg sac contains approximately 150 to 200 spiders, making them a valuable source of antivenom. Once the spiders are safely housed in a container, the public should drop them off at one of the nearby collection points or at the Australian Reptile Park itself.

People whose lives were saved by the antivenom also urged the public to participate in the program.

“ARP and your Antivenin program saved my life in 1994,” commented Nicole Webber about the Australian Reptile Park. Facebook job. “I can only thank you all. Please support the program with safely captured spiders and finances.

Another person, Karen Wright, said her son’s life was saved by the antivenom.

“I am very grateful that this program was started in 1995. At work, years ago, we collected spiders from the public and sent them out. I’m so happy to hear that this is happening now. More lives will be saved. she wrote.

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