Mail lady asked to handle 'big jumping spider' in woman's mailbox — ends up making it feel homely

In the middle of May, an unusual request surfaced on our Instagram screens. A user who goes by @cassiejsharp shared a post on May 8, requesting her mail lady to take care of the spider nestled in her mailbox. The note read, “Dear Postal Service... There is a big, beautiful jumping spider living here. Please don’t hurt her! She wants a safe place to lay her eggs." Note-writer, Casie, called herself a “weirdo” for penning this request, and eventually met a fellow in the game — her mail lady. 

Social media is flooded with incidents of spiders sheltering in mailboxes, and users have hilariously cautioned the mail workers, some even requesting them to kill it. In a different post, a Reddit user illustrated the animal and gave his mailman two options to deal with it: "either relocate or brutally murder” the spider that had captured his mail. Casie's Instagram post managed to underscore the importance of peaceful coexistence with animals in any given situation. Both ladies marked their intelligence by having the spider turn the mailbox into a haven where it could lay eggs, undisturbed. Chelle, the postal worker, took the time to respond to Casie's request in the most heartwarming way with a note that read, “No worries, I love the spider too.” 

Spiders mostly shelter in hidden, dark, and secluded locations for common reasons like preying and raising their babies. Due to their nocturnal nature, they are commonly found in corners, underneath basements, cabinets, and around windows where they can eat flies. Casie named her nickel-sized guest 'Norma,' and said that she deserved the safe space to raise her babies even if that space had to be her mailbox. Norma laid her eggs last spring and returned this year to build her egg sac. She trusted the space, and in return, Cassie entrusted her with the privacy she needed.

According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), “a US federal agency killed 1.5 million native wild animals in the name of ‘controlling’ them.” Such incidents highlight the “human-wildlife conflict” that inflicts harm on the environment and its creatures. It said that coexisting with animals is important now that urbanization has pushed them out of their homes and given us humans a space to build huge houses and sky-high buildings. Cassie’s kind act must inspire all of us to live in harmony with our fellow species as we share the same planet. They're entitled to a good life just as much as us.

It is also beneficial for us humans to build a strong connection with the nature around us. A study by Stanford links decreased levels of cortisol with a walk among wildlife. It stated that a walk in nature results in lower negative emotions, and walking in urban areas does not; therefore, being kinder towards animals is good for our well-being. We can also learn through local communities that already live in the wild. Having their real-time solutions can help build a better environment for everyone of us. 

Casie is an avid animal lover and an artist on Instagram. She is a mother to her two little girls and her many animals that she has adopted. She has a wild collection of species, including the central bearded dragon and snakes. Her Instagram highlight series titled "My Zoo," featured her pets, which range from mammals to reptiles. Watching her dogs and cats live in harmony with snakes and dragons advanced the idea of harmony with wildlife. Her recent art shows an assortment of objects turned into butterflies and caterpillars. 

You can follow her on Instagram @cassiejsharp for homemade "nat-geo" episodes.