Dangerous Animal Encounters – Section 3.6.1 Spiders
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There are over 3,400 species of spider in North America and almost all of them are relatively harmless. In my opinion, on the list of things to be fearful of, spiders should be near the bottom. In fact, spiders are really a vital part of the ecosystem.
The only two species you need to be concerned with:
Only two species of spider in North America pose any real danger to humans: the black widow and the brown recluse. Neither of these spiders are particularly aggressive and will only bite if provoked, albeit generally unintentionally.
I spend a lot of time outdoors and do occasionally see both of these species. The thing is, if you see a spider, it is really not any threat to you. A spider is something that can easily be avoided once you are aware of it, so pay attention.
How to identify black widows:
Black widows are fairly easy to identify, as they are jet black and shiny with a large abdomen. They may or may not have some red on their body. I have seen some with a classic red hourglass shape and others with just a small splotch of red, and others with no red at all. Many other types of black spiders are misidentified as black widows.
Tip: Any black spider that has a hairy appearance can immediately be ruled out.
Black widows like to hang out in leaf litter, piles of branches, firewood piles, and debris. If you are clearing debris, gathering or restacking firewood, or a similar activity, and you are concerned about black widows all you need to is pay attention and wear a pair of leather gloves.
How to identify a brown recluse:
Brown recluse spiders are much more likely to come in contact with humans since they like to live inside human habitations, garages, and sheds. They are not aggressive but will bite if touched or harassed. Brown recluse spiders have a brown or tan thorax and abdomen, and long spindly legs. They do have short hairs on their body but do not appear shaggy like some other spider species. The thorax has a brown fiddle shape on it, which is key to identifying this species. The same precautions should be taken with the brown recluse as with black widows. Pay attention and use caution when rummaging and sticking hands into areas where you can’t see.
