A GIANT fish-eating spider once thought to be extinct in Britain has been spotted creeping back into UK homes — and experts say it’s making a “huge comeback”.
Once on the brink of extinction, the spider’s return is being hailed as a major conservation victory by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
The Fen Raft Spider, which can grow as large as a human hand, has reappeared in parts of Norfolk, sparking both fascination and fear among residents.
These semi-aquatic spiders were almost wiped out in the UK by 2010 due to habitat loss, but after years of conservation work, their numbers are rising rapidly.
The RSPB’s dedicated efforts to restore wetlands have allowed the species to thrive once again, even leading to sightings near homes close to marshes and nature reserves.
The spider has now started appearing in homes across the UK, according to a report by the Daily Echo, with experts warning residents to stay alert as temperatures drop.
The Fen Raft Spider is one of Britain’s largest arachnids and has an appetite to match its size.
It hunts insects, other spiders, damselflies, dragonfly larvae, and even small fish and tadpoles, using its long legs to skim across water and ambush prey.
Despite their intimidating appearance, they are not venomous and pose no threat to humans.
“The Fen Raft Spider is one of the UK’s rarest invertebrates and we are proud of the role our reserves and teams have played in its recovery,” said Tim Strudwick, the RSPB Mid Yare nature reserves site manager, where many of the spiders now live.
“These spiders have an important role in maintaining the rich aquatic diversity found in the grazing ditches on our reserves.
The females are impressive in size, but also beautiful – they are truly special to see,” he told MailOnline.
Mr Strudwick added that the spiders can also be found at another RSPB site in Norfolk, though they tend to be “fairly shy”.
There are now an estimated 3,750 breeding females spread across 12 sites in Norfolk.
“Walking along the meadow trail gives visitors at Strumpshaw Fen the best chance of sightings of the mature females and their glistening nursery webs, so now is the perfect time to make a trip to the reserve,” he said.
RSPB ecologist Jane Sears, who was also involved in the project, added: “The RSPB has played an important role in the reintroduction of these spiders and means we must continue to restore, manage and protect the wetland habitats where the Fen Raft Spider thrives to ensure the future of not just this species, but many others too.”
Experts say the species’ revival is a sign of improving wetland health in Britain, and proof that focused conservation efforts can bring even the rarest creatures back from the brink.
So while the sight of a hand-sized spider in your home might send shivers down your spine, wildlife experts insist the Fen Raft Spider’s comeback is something to celebrate, not fear.
How to spot the Fen Raft Spider
The Fen Raft Spider is Britain’s biggest, making them far from difficult to spot.
The best way to see them is when the females create a nursery for their young, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
Tim Strudwick, reserves manager for the RSPB in the mid Yare valley in Norfolk, said: “The female lays her eggs into a sack and when the young come out of that sack about three weeks later, they form a nursery in the water plants.
“You can see it just above the water surface.
“So this is what we’re counting, once you see one and get your eye in you start seeing them everywhere because they are quite a unique thing.”
He added: “They catch the dew and if you come on a morning, a sunny morning, the light goes through them, and they glow – you can see them with the naked eye 20m or so away.”
