Advice on Spiders Please : Do Not read if they bother you

[Ben551]

*** IF YOU ARE SCARED OF SPIDERS I ADVISE AGAINST READING THIS THREAD***

Dear all,

I have a bit of an issue that I would like some advice on please.

My wife and I are still new at this and, although we seem to be handling all manner of problems as they come up, there is one that has us a bit stumped.  Our place is set against the New Zealand bush and contains all manner of insects, including spiders.  Unlike our Australian cousins across the ocean, we are lucky in NZ and don't have very many poisonous spiders (the few that are poisonous are very rare and hardly seen). We also don't have snakes in NZ, or any major preditors, so hey... it could be worse right?

The problem is, when we do get spiders they are... a little bit bigger than people are used to. 

After getting some horrified reactions, we added a warning to our listing in the best way we could think of, added it to our guest book, and started telling people at check-in of the dangers of leaving the windows open.  But honestly, people are STILL surprised when they find a spider and seem to approach it with genuine terror!  Each time this happens, we feel a bit guilty.  I don't want guests to feel horrified, but... I can't change it.  It's hot here right now and people want to leave windows open.  When they do that, spiders come in... simple as that. 

I know we're not responsible for the insects of New Zealand... and there is no point laying awake a night worring if guests are going to find any... but I just wonder if we should be doing something else?

Here is the warning we have on our listing, which we also include in our guest book:

◉ Trees, bees, birds and more! ◉
Please note that the cottage is located in the forest and is surrounded by trees, nature and natural wildlife. There are flowers, birds, bees and insects in the forest. This can mean a small amount of pollen or insects may enter the cottage during your stay. This is very rare, however it can happen if windows are left open for long periods. If finding a spider would bother you, or if you are severly allergic to pollen or bees, we recommend you reconsider your stay with us. Although we are meticulous and thorough, we cannot promise the space will be entirely free of these things. Living in New Zealand is both wild and beautiful so we accept these small things as part of the wonderful life we have.

How does that sound?  I thought it sounded ok.  The problem is that I don't know if this is a warning is suitably proportionate to the "size" of the spiders I'm talking about here.  I also don't think there is any way to illustrate this without sharing a picture.... I hate to do it, but I'm going to post a link to one that our guests caught and photographed... we caught another this morning about 2/3 the size of this one, but still very large.  I dunno, they just seem to get fat and healthy in our bush... Bundle the cat likes to eat them (weirdo). These certainly aren't the biggest NZ has either, they can be dinner plate or toilet seat sized up in Auckland, so frankly I'd take Wellington spiders any day...

Link to picture of our average spider invader:

https://spiderid.com/picture/52075/

Feel free to not follow the above link and just give me general advice based on whatever size of insect you imagine would bother you.  Bear in mind, most of our guests are not New Zealanders, they are British, European, American, Chinese.... etc.  Actually, I've lost track of the countries...

~ Ben

[Sarah977]

@Lisa723 I can't play that video for some reason. Maybe only available in some regions. Tarantulas are the only spiders that freak me out. I've had to gingerly rehome a couple, while silently screaming inside.

I came down one morning to my dog intently watching something in one of my plant beds. I crouched down to see what it was, couldn't see anything for a few seconds, because it was so well camouflaged in the plants. Garden snake eating a baby iguana.

[John1080]

I hate seeing a spider, perhaps more than a snake! Luckily, we have very few creepy, crawly creatures such as insects or spiders. Our guests often see our local herd of mule deer, and if they're lucky our resident bobcat or a bear.

[Sarah977]

@John1080  It's interesting- I know far more men who are freaked out by spiders than women. My ex was terrified- when I asked him why, he said "they jump". I replied that only some jump, but he insisted "THEY ALL JUMP!".

[John1080]

@Sarah977, mwhaha! I'm in that camp! They are just so creepy, hiding in corners with their hairy legs! What an awesome photo of the snake eating the iguana, btw! 

[Sarah977]

@John1080  Now see, that's just like thinking they all jump- all spiders don't have hairy legs.  But I'd probably never be able to convince you of that 🙂

[John1080]

@Sarah977., ha! Enough of them do! 

[Shaun69]

@Ben551 I live in the Uk, 31 years ago i married a wonderful lady from Wales called Suzanne, she has the ability to cope with everything, war, death, urine , blood, drunk husband and weird children!!!! However there is one thing that blows her mind and that is spiders, I am sorry to inform you that it doesn't matter what you write in your listing it will not help her to overcome her issues. I applaud you for trying but sometimes its just a bridge to far!!!!!!

Regards Shaun

[Ben551]

Hahahaha understood @Shaun69  - my goal with others like your wife is to make it clear enough about the spiders that you opt to book elsewhere entirely, so if you think the description would achieve that, then that's perfect 🙂

[Susan653]

This thread is the best! I love learning about everyone's local fauna and getting ideas re: how to help guests live harmoniously with the critters they may encounter.

We don't get too much in the way of gargantuan insects in this part of New England. I know there are seasonal black fly invasions from Vermont northward, but here in Connecticut, we're safe from those. The main irritant I get in my listing is of the arachnid variety, but our "cellar spiders" aren't all that big--just long-leggedy (which, admittedly, makes them seem huge to arachnophobes):

I always do a spider wrangle before guests arrive, capturing any I find in a jam jar and releasing them outside. If I don't have time, I get my older son to do it (he wants to be a wildlife biologist when he grows up). 🙂

Teen kitties Lucy and Linus van Pelt haven't found one yet, but they'll no doubt go appropriately bonkers when they do (although they're not allowed in the Airbnb). I wish I could upload a photo of them, but when I try, the file's too big. 😞 The kitty I had when we lived in NY used to stalk, kill, and eat waterbugs, which I greatly appreciated.

[Stephanie]

Hi everyone,

My stomach has gone through many emotions (convulsions) looking through this conversation. The main animals we have to contend with trying to get in the house are pigeons, foxes, hedgehogs and neighbours cats, here in London. I can't imagine adding "don't worry, the screaming sound is foxes getting in the bins" to a listing. I've a spider that lives in my window since last winter @Ben551 , seems to be a top bloke.

I wonder, if there any other environmental factors that may impact a Guest stay and are worth mentioning in a listing?

Thanks

Stephanie

Thanks

[Ben551]

Hahahaha @Stephanie sorry m’lady, I hope it wasn’t too gut wrenching for you.

I have read other threads on here actually, where folks live amongst wildlife who visit often. One host was afraid guests might be put off by this, so we crafted a suggested “Nature is a curious neighbour” type response. I’m a believer that there is often a way to turn these things into a hosting positive 🙂

[Stephanie]

Couldn't agree more @Ben551 .

For some people, it's absolutely their cup of tea. Nature was there first, eh! 

Thanks,

Stephanie

[Huma0]

@Stephanie 

I have had to explain several times to guests about the screaming foxes. Most overseas visitors (including other Europeans) are astonished that we have foxes in London because they think you only find them in forests.

One time some guests, looking out of the bedroom window as I showed them around, asked me what the furry thing on my terrace was. I assumed it was one of my cats, but took a look, and it was a fox curled up fast asleep in a flowerpot. The guests thought this was amazing and started taking photos. The fox was not bothered by me, my guests, nor my cats and spent the entire day there. It was January (hence why the plants are looking a bit sad) so I guess it was the cosiest spot for a snooze.

[Stephanie]

@Huma0 what a gorgeous snap! Cheeky fox! My lavendar looks like that year round because... well it's dead. I don't have the heart to throw it away.

[Huma0]

@Stephanie 

Yes, I fear that lavender was dead! I seem to have varying luck with it. It blooms like crazy and seems really healthy. I prune as per all the instructions and then suddenly it just dies for no apparent reason, while other pots are still going strong in the same spot.

The fox was sleeping on some grass I had planted for the cats to munch on, so I guess that was the softest, cushiest pot to sleep in!