These Spiders In Australia Are Getting Too Smart — Not Even Floods Can Stop Them

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Australia is a land of extremes. The continent is known for its deadly assortment of wildlife, but that’s not the only extreme thing about it. There’s also the weather. Recent floods in areas of Tasmania have caused unprecedented damage to residents’ homes and businesses. However, the extreme flooding has also caused wildlife — specifically spiders — to flee from rising waters in the most terrifying way possible.

In the wake of these floods, thousands of small spiders decided to hitch rides on the wind to higher (and drier) ground. This has resulted in large areas of land being swathed in spider webs.

Spiders travel using a technique known as ballooning, which entails throwing out strands of silk and getting carried by the wind. These “flying spiders” float along until they find suitable spots to build new webs.

Spiders usually balloon on their own, but mass ballooning events like this are often associated with natural disasters like floods and fires.

The flooding in parts of Tasmania has been absolutely incredible over the last week. One person has died so far.

In addition to the spiders, floods have forced other fleeing wildlife into contact with humans. Residents are being warned to give these creatures a wide berth if and when they encounter them.

(via Sydney Morning Herald)

Sadly, we’re likely to see more stories of unexpected extreme weather events as the years go on and we continue to feel the impact of climate change. This is some seriously creepy stuff, folks.

Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/spider-balloons/

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