But Jarrad Prangell, reptile supervisor at Helensburgh's Symbio Wildlife Park, said the eight-legged creatures were "nothing to be afraid of".

Mr Prangell said funnel-web spiders, for the most part, did not leave their burrow and only ventured a short distance to hunt.

It was only mature males who roamed further, he said, trying to find as many females as possible to mate with.

"That's why he might find his way into your shoe or laundry basket," Mr Prangell said.

The spiders become more active in summer because bugs and invertebrates get more energy the warmer it is.

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Mr Prangell said the next three months would bring increased movement from the male funnel-webs.

He said the spiders liked moist, damp areas so they were more likely to come out when there was a little bit of rain, too.

It is set to be a hotter and drier summer, but this does not mean funnel-web spiders are likely to seek water from homes.

Mr Prangell said the arachnids got all the moisture they needed from the places they took refuge, such as leaf litter and under rocks.

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