Updated: October 2025 | Author: Samantha Kerr, Assurance First Aid Kits
Funnel-Web First Aid in One Minute
If you’re bitten by a funnel-web spider in Australia, stay calm, apply a pressure immobilisation bandage, call 000, and don’t move. These spiders are deadly, but survival is very likely with the correct first aid and fast medical attention. Our Assurance Snake & Spider Kits are purpose-built to handle bites like these.
Funnel Web Spider Fang (left) vs Eastern Brown Snake Fang
What Are Funnel-Web Spiders?
Funnel-web spiders belong to the Atracidae family and are considered some of the deadliest spiders in the world. The male Sydney funnel-web spider is the most dangerous to humans. Their fangs can pierce fingernails, and their venom can cause serious harm within minutes.
These spiders are aggressive when threatened and are often encountered in suburban gardens, bushland, or hidden inside shoes and piles of clothes.
Where Are Funnel-Web Spiders Found in Australia?
Funnel-webs are found along the east coast of Australia. Here’s a breakdown of common locations:
Funnel Web Spider Fang compared to an Eastern Brown Snake fang
| State | Regions Found |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter Region |
| Queensland | Southeast regions including Brisbane hinterland |
| Victoria | Eastern and alpine areas |
| ACT | Common in residential gardens |
Funnel-webs prefer dark, moist environments. They are often found under rocks, logs, mulch, and in swimming pool filter boxes. During summer storms, they are more active and likely to enter homes seeking shelter.
Are Funnel-Web Spiders Really That Dangerous?
Yes — but only to humans. The venom of male funnel-web spiders contains a compound called delta-atracotoxin, which can overstimulate the human nervous system and lead to respiratory failure. However, thanks to modern first aid and the availability of antivenom, there have been no deaths from funnel-web bites in Australia since 1981.
Here’s how the venom affects humans:
- Intense local pain
- Tingling and numbness around the mouth
- Profuse sweating
- Muscle twitching
- Nausea and vomiting
- Breathing difficulties and confusion
Why Most Australian Animals Are Immune
Interestingly, funnel-web venom is only highly toxic to humans, primates, and newborn mice. Australian animals like dogs, cats, kangaroos, and wombats are unaffected. Scientists believe this is due to differences in ion channels in their nervous systems, which the spider venom can’t bind to. This makes funnel-web spiders more of a household danger than a bushland one — your pet may survive, but you may not.
ANZCOR First Aid Steps for Funnel-Web Bites
Follow these steps immediately after a suspected funnel-web spider bite. These are the official ANZCOR (Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation) guidelines:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Call 000 for emergency help. |
| 2 | Keep the victim still and calm. Movement spreads venom faster. |
| 3 | Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage — start at the bite site and wrap up the limb tightly. |
| 4 | Immobilise the limb with a splint or sling if possible. |
| 5 | Do NOT wash the area — venom traces help identify the species. |
Be prepared: Shop our Australian-made Snake & Spider Kits.
Symptoms Timeline After a Funnel-Web Bite
| Time After Bite | Common Symptoms |
|---|---|
| 0–5 minutes | Sharp pain, sweating, anxiety |
| 5–15 minutes | Tingling, numbness, muscle twitching |
| 15–30 minutes | Nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing |
| 30+ minutes | Severe symptoms, risk of respiratory failure |
Not everyone will follow this exact timeline — act fast regardless of symptoms.
Shared First Aid: Snake Bites vs Funnel-Web Bites
| Action | Snake Bite | Funnel-Web Bite |
|---|---|---|
| Call 000 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Apply Pressure Immobilisation Bandage | ✅ | ✅ |
| Immobilise Limb | ✅ | ✅ |
| Wash Bite Area | ❌ | ❌ |
| Use Assurance Kit | Yes | Yes |
FAQs — Funnel-Web Spider Bites in Australia
How long do you have after a bite?
Symptoms may appear in 10–30 minutes. Immediate first aid and emergency help are vital.
What does a funnel-web bite look like?
Two small puncture marks, swelling, and redness at the site. Pain is usually severe.
Should I try to catch the spider?
No. Focus on first aid. Venom samples can be taken from the wound for identification.
Can kids survive a funnel-web bite?
Yes — survival is likely with rapid first aid and hospital care. Children are more vulnerable, so act fast.
Trusted Australian Resources
Stay Ready with the Right First Aid Kit
If you live on the east coast of Australia, funnel-web spiders are a real threat. Be ready with an Assurance First Aid Kit — trusted by paramedics, made for Aussie emergencies.
Built for bites. Designed to save lives. Don’t risk being unprepared.
