| Mark
Bruton from Handsworth was putting his Christmas decorations away
when he noticed three tanks containing many people's worst nightmare.
He
called his Housing Association who contacted BBC WM's animal rescue
specialist, Ray Dedicoat.
 |
| A
Costa Rican Red Tarantula |
Ray
visited the house and confirmed that the creepy crawlies really
were tarantulas.
It's thought the exotic species were abandoned by a former resident
a year ago. They'd bred - and eaten each other - over the months.
Ray
took them to his animal sanctuary in Wythall - but this morning
they were pronounced dead. But that's not the end of the story.
Where
are they now?
Several of the spiders - Costa Rican Reds - turned out to be empty
skins, shed by the tarantulas over the months. So where are they
now? And how many are there?
Hear Ray Dedicoat
discovering the Tarantulas live, as he talked to BBC WM's Tony
Wadsworth. |
The
Stratford Butterfly Farm, which has a large collection of tropical
spiders, said they may have escaped into the loft space.
 |
| A
Costa Rican Red Tarantula in a Handswoth attic |
But
there's no need to panic - the Costa Rican Red is a docile creature
and unlikely to harm humans.
The chances of a colony of tarantulas expanding in a hidden nook
in Birmingham is very small indeed.
The creatures wouldn't be able to withstand British winter temperatures,
with freezing conditions predicted for tonight.
Even so, Mark Bruton is going to have a very thorough look under
his bed tonight before he turns in.
More spider pictures
If you haven't seen enough spiders, check out our 'Spiders in the
Attic' below.
|
