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Giant spiders that can grow to the size of rats and live off fish are making a comeback in the UK, according to the RSPB.
For centuries the fen raft spider lurked in the UK's wetlands but, after the industrial revolution led to many of its habitats being drained, the species almost went extinct in the 20th Century.
Now, after years of conversation work by the RSPB and Chester Zoo, the species is now back to thriving in the UK - which may not be welcomed by everyone.
After hitting a low of just three areas where they were known to exist in 2010 but there is now an estimated 10,000 breeding females across the UK.
The RSPB say the spider is set to have its best year on record in Norfolk and Suffolk, with almost half of the breeding females present there.
In 2010 a project was formed to breed and reintroduce the spiders to more suitable habitats.
In 2012 they were released at the RSPB-owned Cantley Marshes where they thrived and spread to the nearby surrounding areas.
They ranged as far as another RSPB-owned site called Strumpshaw Fen where they were first reported by a visitor who took a picture of one.
Tim Strudwick, the reserves manager for the RSPB in the mid-Yare valley in Norfolk said: "We just don’t know how far they are going to spread and that’s what’s exciting, seeing which bits of habitat they take over next."
originally posted by: bluesman023
Makes for some Good Target practice with a 22.
a reply to: nugget1
originally posted by: AlroyFarms
As if people needed more reasons to hate environmentalists.
originally posted by: nugget1
originally posted by: AlroyFarms
As if people needed more reasons to hate environmentalists.
no kidding! Idaho just loves those environmentalists after introducing the non-native Canadian wolf....especially the ranchers.
F&G gets to fly around in chartered heliocopters with their buddies and shoot them. Maybe the UK could do something like that?