Traveler opens suitcase to find ‘very fast,’ 8-legged stowaway in UK, photo shows
A traveler unknowingly brought an extra passenger — an “adventurous” creepy crawly creature — home to Scotland in a suitcase, United Kingdom officials said.
The traveler returned from a work trip in Africa and arrived home to Edinburgh, Scotland, the Scottish SPCA said in a June 27 news release.
They opened their suitcase and found an eight-legged stowaway inside: a huntsman spider, officials said.
“The spider was very fast, and about (4 inches) in size,” Scottish SPCA animal rescue officer Catherine Atterton said in the release. “Huntsman spiders are known for their speed and their ability to jump.”
When fully grown, huntsman spiders can reach about 11 inches in size and are considered the “world’s largest spider by leg span,” BBC reported.
The spiders, which are venomous but “reluctant to bite,” don’t pose a major threat to humans, the outlet reported.
The “shocked” traveler managed to capture the “adventurous” spider in a plastic container then called the SPCA, officials said.
“Thankfully the spider was none the worse for wear after their long journey and was taken to one of our animal rescue and rehoming centers to quarantine,” Atterton said.
The stowaway spider will be taken to a specialist in Kent after quarantine, officials said.
“We know a lot of people find spiders frightening but, to the Scottish SPCA, they’re just another animal who needs our help,” Atterton said.
This story was originally published July 2, 2023 at 8:55 AM with the headline "Traveler opens suitcase to find ‘very fast,’ 8-legged stowaway in UK, photo shows."
