Spider bites are mostly harmless in the United States. However, there are three known species in the country that can cause serious harm: the black widow, brown recluse, and hobo spider.
According to one woman on TikTok, her father had an interaction with one of those spider species during a camping trip. The outcome was unexpected.
What Happened During The Camping Trip?
TikTok creator Madeline Scott (@madisaurus) has viewers hooked on what she calls her “Dave tales,” stories about her father’s adventurous and unusual ways.
In one video, which has garnered over 152,500 views, she shares what happened when her dad, whom she describes as someone who “gets himself in situations,” went on a Boy Scout camping trip in Arkansas.
“Back in like 2011, my dad was a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America,” she says.
According to Scott, the trip started out as “business as usual.” But less than a day in, something bad happens.
“He has been gone all of 18 hours when my mom gets a call,” she says, explaining that another scoutmaster told her father was already in the hospital.
Her mother was told to start driving immediately.
“What could have happened in the 18 hours since I saw you guys off?” she recalls her mom asking.
Scott says her dad grabbed a shirt that had been hanging on the back of a chair. When he put it on, he felt what he initially thought was “a marble” inside.
“Not a marble. It was a northern black widow that bit him here, here, and here,” she says, pointing to several areas on the chest.
They Raced To The Hospital
After identifying the spider, the group reportedly acted quickly.
“They took it to the old man who ran the camp,” she says, adding that they were told to leave immediately.
“Get in my truck… ambulances don’t come out here, and you’ve got 45 minutes,” she says the man told them.
At first, her dad didn’t think it that serious.
“My dad’s like, it’s gonna be no big deal,” she says. “Turns out, big deal,” she adds, explaining that her father also had a heart condition, which made the situation more dangerous.
He was admitted to the ICU, where doctors had to manage the symptoms without immediate access to antivenom.
“They’re like, ‘We can’t get the antivenom,’” she says. “’So we’re gonna sedate you so you don’t seize and die.’”
While her mother drove to Arkansas, Scott says she spoke to her dad on the phone and immediately knew something was off.
“I’m like, ‘Hey, dad, you good?;” she says.
His response didn’t make much sense.
“He’s like, ‘So I can see the Tyson chicken plant from my window… and it’s a lot larger than one would think,’” she recalls.
According to Scott, he went on to explain a plan to escape the hospital, but then got stuck on an imaginary hurdle.
“If I sleep in my car, the chicken plant people might see me and think I’m a chicken and then process me like I am a chicken,” she says he told her.
Scott says she didn’t know how to react to his. “I landed on, ‘Maybe stay put where you are,’” she says.
The Spider Bite Had An Unexpected Outcome
Scott says her dad remained in the ICU in Arkansas for several days and lost a significant amount of weight.
However, it wasn’t all bad. According to her, the incident had an unexpectedly long-term effect.
“It accidentally ‘cured’ his diabetes,” she says, explaining that he had previously been insulin-dependent but no longer needed it afterward.
Doctors reportedly didn’t have a clear explanation.
“They were like, man, weird how that works,” she says. “Too bad the fatality rate is so damn high.”
The experience also gave him a lasting nickname. “It earned him the nickname Spider Dave,” she says.
And according to Scott, that name stuck with him for the rest of his time in the Boy Scouts.
“So that’s the tale of Spider Dave,” she concludes.
Could Spider Venom Cure Type 2 Diabetes?
According to a few reports in recent years, potentially yes.
Ulster University in Ireland conducted a study about this in 2023 and found that certain peptides in tarantula venom may help the body release insulin and better regulate blood sugar.
It works so well that researchers think it shows potential as a future treatment for diabetes.
However, it goes without saying that getting bitten by a black widow is extremely dangerous, and the risks far outweigh any benefit. This is simply early-stage research that shows promising results.
Commenters Love Spider Dave
In the comments, viewers were curious about the diabetes cure and Dave’s adventures.
“…..I…a…wha…(sigh) at no point did I know what combination of words was going to come out of your mouth,” one person wrote.
“Wait,” wrote another. “I have questions about the spider venom And insulin…..”
“This is the first time I’ve heard of Dave. I’m here for the long haul. Hello everyone,” a third said.
A fourth commenter shared a similar experience with the bizarre side effects Scott described.
“I think I was on those meds too after knee surgery. LoL My mom heard me laughing hysterically in my room,” another shared. “What she found was me; tears rolling down my face, slapping my other thigh whilst making that no noise laugh because you cant breathe. There was no TV, music ,books, ect on or near me. She said she just watched me for a sec, saw I was OK, and then quietly closed the door cause she wasnt gonna ruin my fun.. Still have no idea what was so funny.”
@madisaurusrekd Replying to @Laine Lewis Spirderdave lives 🕸️🕷️ #davetales #bsa #boyscouts #spiderdave #storytime
BroBible has reached out to Scott via TikTok and Instagram messages for comment and additional information.