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Man intentionally gets bitten by black widow spiders to 'debunk myths' and the results are surprising
Home>News>Animals
Updated 15:47 9 Mar 2025 GMTPublished 15:26 7 Mar 2025 GMT

Man intentionally gets bitten by black widow spiders to 'debunk myths' and the results are surprising

I'm still not convinced...

Liv Bridge

Liv Bridge

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In a bid to prove a rather bizarre point, a YouTuber decided to get a Black Widow spider to bite him, on purpose, and documented what happened next.

If you've ever wondered what venom from a spider bite feels like coursing through your veins, then wonder no more as Jack Schonhoff has all the answers.

Taking to his educational wildlife YouTube channel, Jack can often be seen writhing in pain and rating some of the most gory encounters he's had with nature's most dangerous critters, from bites to stings as well as his series 'How DEADLY is the bite of...'

The YouTuber put the spider bite to the test (Jack's World of Wildlife/YouTube)
The YouTuber put the spider bite to the test (Jack's World of Wildlife/YouTube)

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As the ominous name of his series suggests, it's here where Jack decided to put the Black Widow spider bite to the test and it makes some a rather disturbing viewing.

The spider has a notable reputation, though a small number of people who are bitten actually die, at around four in eight succumbing to its poisonous venom each year, according to Adam's Pests.

But those who do meet their demise tend to already be immunocompromised - or have an allergic reaction to the venom, the site goes on to explain.

However, that's not to say you should put the limits of your health to the test and try and get a Black Widow to bite you as Jack showed the impact of the bite is still pretty gnarly.

The venom can leave you in a huge amount of pain and discomfort, including lower back pain which Jack described as 'the most painful it's been in my entire life.'

Happier times before the venom caused excruciating pain (Jacks World of Wildlife/YouTube)
Happier times before the venom caused excruciating pain (Jacks World of Wildlife/YouTube)

What's worse is it took the YouTuber almost two weeks to feel 'totally normal' again.

Despite the agonizing pain, Jack posted the video to demonstrate that Black Widows don't necessarily carry the death sentence that their reputation suggests, though they're certainly not to be trifled with, either.

He said: "Essentially, [the bite] is terrible, it hurts, but it's not going to kill you," he continued.

"Again, these widow spiders a very, very, very reluctant to bite. The only way you're realistically going to be bitten by a black widow is if you pin it to your skin."

To avoid getting bitten by one, Jack added: "So if you're leaving your shoes outside, check your shoes. If you're leaving stuff in you're garage that you're putting on, check it before you put it on.

"It's as simple as that. These spiders are not aggressive."

But just because the Black Widow won't kill you, doesn't mean other spiders will be so forgiving.

The Brazilian Wandering Spider is one you should probably avoid, what with it having a highly potent venom which can easily be fatal, though fortunately there is an effective anti-venom.

And if you see the Funnelweb, which is native to Australia, you should run for the hills as this aggressive critter has a bite so venomous it could take down a healthy adult within three days if left untreated.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Jack’s World of Wildlife

Topics: Science, Nature, Insects, Animals, World News, YouTube

Liv Bridge
Liv Bridge

Liv Bridge is a digital journalist who joined the UNILAD team in 2024 after almost three years reporting local news for a Newsquest UK paper, The Oldham Times. She's passionate about health, housing, food and music, especially Oasis...

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@livbridge

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