Whether it’s a letter from an old friend or that Amazon package you’d forgotten all about, there’s nothing more exciting than getting a surprise in the post.
But as this terrifing map shows, finding something unexpected in your mail could prove deadly.
Last week, a student at Bristol University was terrified to discover a potentially lethal Chinese scorpion hiding inside her Shein package.
And new data shared with MailOnline by the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (NCRW) reveals that events like this are far more common than you might think.
Each year, hundreds of scorpions, snakes, and spiders sneak into the UK inside packages, luggage and even fresh fruit from the supermarket.
Since 2018, the NCRW has rescued more than 400 ‘stowaways’ from around the country including black widow spiders and the world’s deadliest snake.
Chris Newman, director of the NCRW, told MailOnline: ‘Human health is our biggest concern, some of these animals are medical significant and could be life-threatening.’
As a potentially deadly scorpion is discovered inside a Shein package, new data reveals that hundreds of dangerous wild animals are travelling to the UK each year
Britain’s wild stowaways
Fast international shipping has been a huge boon for business owners and customers alike who want to import goods from abroad.
The problem is that cargo isn’t the only thing being carried around the world.
Animals ranging from entire colonies of ants up to 6-foot-long snakes frequently end up hitching a ride aboard shipping containers and inside packages.
Since 2018, the NCRW has been recording data about the stowaways it gets called out to rescue.
This data shows a stark increase in the number of non-native wild animals being accidentally imported into the UK each year.
In 2022, the NCRW was only called out to rescue 44 wild animals which had made their way into the UK – by 2023, that number had more than doubled to 101.
So far this year, the NCRW says it has found just over 200 animals, including 42 in September alone.
Mr Newman says that some of this increase is due to better awareness of their services, leading to more animals being reported.
However, he also suggests that an increase in packages arriving from China could be bringing more animals into the country.
While 200 animals arriving each year is already troubling, these figures almost certainly only capture a fraction of the true problem.
NCRW says that a far larger number of arrivals are likely going unreported or are never noticed in the first place.
Mr Newman says: ‘I believe only the very tip of the iceberg is being reported.’
What animals have hitched a ride into Britain?
The most common type of stowaway hitching a ride into Britain are lizards, with more than 280 having been reported since 2018.
These are commonly European varieties such as the Mediterranean House Gecko, the Moorish Gecko, or the Italian Wall Lizard.
The most common type of stowaway arriving in the UK were lizards like this Tenerife Gecko which was rescued by the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (NCRW). Since 2018, the NCRW has rescued more than 280 lizards
But in bad news for arachnophobes, spiders are the second most common type of stowaway, with 39 arriving since 2018.
This is closely followed by frogs and toads which have been spotted a total of 35 times.
Their route into the country varies from animal to animal, but they are most often found inside fresh produce, shipping containers, or personal luggage.
Since 2018, 45 per cent of all non-native animals reported to NCRW have travelled to Britain inside someone’s bag.
A significant proportion of insects and frogs are also often found inside bags of fresh fruit brought from the supermarket.
In the last six years, 66 wild animals have been found just inside bags of bananas and table grapes.
Are these animals dangerous?
The majority of the species arriving aren’t dangerous but there have been some worrying exceptions.
NCRW says that scorpions are ‘quite common’ and are often found in fresh produce, packages and luggage. Some, like this Chinese Scorpion found by the NCRW, can be dangerous for humans
Of the 12 species of scorpion which have been found arriving in the UK, eight are considered to have a ‘high’ public health concern level.
For example, the scorpion which was found inside a Shein package last week was identified as an Olivierus martensii, or Chinese scorpion.
Mr Newman says: ‘Olivierus martensii are medically significant. They are a threat to the young, the elderly and the immunocompromised, but for an average healthy adult it would just really ruin your day.’
Mr Newman also said the NCRW had just rescued a Tityus stigmurus, one of the world’s deadliest scorpions, which had made its way to the UK.
Mr Newman says that these are ‘extremely dangerous and cause many fatalities in their range.
But scorpions aren’t the only dangerous insects hitching a ride to Britain as the data also shows a range of dangerous or deadly spiders and centipedes.
In 2022 and 2023, five Western Black Widows were found inside cars imported from the US.
The bite of the Western Black Widow is rarely fatal except in children but can be extremely dangerous leading to severe pain, stiffness and muscle spasms.
In 2022 and 2023, five Western Black Widows were found inside cars imported from America. The bite of these spiders can be extremely dangerous to humans. Pictured: a Western Black Widow found in Telford, Shropshire inside a package delivered from America
In another bizarre incident, a deadly Australian Redback Spider was found clinging to a safety barrier on the Dartford crossing.
Additionally, in February this year, a red-headed centipede was found inside the personal luggage of a traveller returning from Kenya to Liverpool.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, these eight-inch-long centipedes have a ‘confrontational attitude’ and can cause excruciating pain with their bites.
However, it is snakes which pose the biggest threat to human life of all non-native stowaways.
Although snakes make up a smaller part of the total arrivals, with only 33 having arrived since the start of 2023, they are often much more dangerous.
In particular, Mr Newman says that the NCRW sees at least one Saw-scaled Viper almost every year.
The Saw-scaled Viper is highly venomous, small, and extremely aggressive which makes them especially dangerous to humans.
These snakes are responsible for an estimated 5,000 deaths every year – making them the deadliest snake on the planet in terms of fatalities.
The NCRW says that it finds at least one saw-scaled viper almost every year. The saw-scaled viper (pictured by NCRW) is the most deadly snake on the planet in terms of yearly fatalities
They typically come to the UK from India or Pakistan inside shipping containers containing clothes or ornamental stones.
In 2021, a Saw-scaled viper was found by a stonemasonry firm in Essex and reported to the South Essex Wildlife Hospital.
Thankfully, the snake had grown cold during its journey and was very lethargic by the time it was discovered.
Speaking to CNN at the time, a representative for the wildlife hospital said that those who found the snake were ‘very lucky’ not to have been killed.
Mr Newman says that the frequency with which these animals are arriving is a matter of ‘real concern’.
He says: ‘People should be concerned; indeed, government should be concerned but we need to keep it in perspective.’
What to do if you find a wild animal
If you do find a wild animal in your package, produce, or luggage, the most important thing is not to panic.
In 2021, a saw-scaled viper was found inside a crate of ornamental stones sent from India to Essex. The South Essex Wildlife Hospital (pictured) which captured the animal said that everyone was ‘very lucky’ to not have been killed
The vast majority of species that you could encounter are not likely to be dangerous and so you are probably not in any immediate danger.
Even for scorpions, of the 2,000 species around the world, only 20 to 30 are likely to cause fatalities in humans.
However, you should still be extremely careful when dealing with any unexpected animals.
Due to the ecological risks, it is an offence to release the animal or knowingly allow it to escape so you must take measures to keep the animal controlled.
Mr Newman says: ‘The most import thing to do if you find something is to try and contain it into something secure – plastic takeaway boxes are ideal.
‘If it’s a scorpion or spider be very careful and do not touch the animal, use a stick or pencil to move it if necessary.’
After ensuring that the animal is not going to escape, you should contact either the RSPCA or NCRW as soon as possible.
However, the RSPCA cautions that you should not try to touch any animal directly before it has been identified.
If you do find an animal like this huntsman spider, you should try to trap it somewhere secure if possible to do so safely. Do not attempt to touch the animal unless an expert has identified it as safe to handle
An RSPCA spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘People should always treat any unidentified animal with caution until identified accurately and not to try to handle an animal that has been discovered as accidentally imported.
‘Holidaymakers can help by checking luggage thoroughly when packing to return home.
‘Once packed, keep the bags zipped up and don’t leave them open on the floor overnight as this also provides an opportunity for animals to hide away.’