Fen raft spiders have been spotted in the UK again after the arachnids, which grow to be the size of an adult’s palm, bounced back from the brink of extinction in Britain.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust confirmed a sighting of one of the three-inch-long beasts last month, though thankfully there is slim chance of finding the huge creatures in homes across the country.
The species, which can eat small fish, was dangerously close to extinction in Britain a decade ago but has since had its population numbers bolstered by conservation efforts which included the RSPB as well as the British Arachnological Society, Suffolk and Sussex Wildlife Trusts, Natural England and the Broads Authority.
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Replying to Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s posts about the spider, some nature fans said they would be heading out to see the creatures for themselves. One user wrote: “It’s so good they are here nearby, a challenge to spot; but once they’ve built their nest for their spidering s they are easier to find.” [SIC]. Another hoped they would be “lucky” enough to see the huge spider.
(Image: Getty Images)
Suffolk Wildlife Trust North East Reserves shared a video and a photo of the spider on X and wrote: “Fen raft spiders starting to appear on the Dyke networks of the Lower Waveney Valley. This one was battling the wind even on this sheltered Dyke line.”
Another fen raft spider was spotted at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve. The Friends of Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve group on Facebook shared an image of one last month, writing: “Fen raft spiders have also been spotted along with lots of other signs of spring.”
The spider is still protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act due to its high risk of extinction. Up until 2010 there were only three known populations in the UK, leaving the species very vulnerable. A reintroduction scheme began at Castle Marshes nature reserve where around 3,000 spiderlings were bred and reared. They were later released into the dykes of the Suffolk Wildlife trust.
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