Watch as the huntsman spider uses its natural behavior for capturing prey. Huntsman spiders are nocturnal and will perch on vertical surfaces at night looking for tasty treats like crickets, beetles, moths, and roaches. | Audubon Nature Institute

In Australia, a man decided to let a giant huntsman spider live in his home. Despite their large size and hairy appearance, huntsman spiders aren’t considered dangerous. Like most spiders, they do have venom, but their bite only causes mild effects—and they’d much rather run away than attack. Their scary reputation mostly comes from their size and speed, as they’re lightning-fast ambush hunters. A natural ally: they love to snack on common household pests like cockroaches, mosquitoes, flies, cat