Tag: Spiders

The scary spiders you don’t want to meet on a hike

Watch out for these bitey critters.

Why do you like to hike? Do the gorgeous views draw you in? Are you a fan of the peace and quiet found deep in the woods? Or maybe you enjoy getting some fresh air while exercising. Whatever your reason for hiking is, if you’re like most people, the creepy crawly critters found outside can bring the fun of hiking to an abrupt end.

While some people find the world’s insects and arachnids utterly fascinating, many others can’t help but fear spiders. Even lifelong hikers aren’t immune to arachnophobia. If you’re afraid of spiders and don’t want them to ruin your hike, arm yourself with knowledge before your next outdoor adventure. Here’s Outdoors Wire’s guide to America’s two most common scary spiders and what to do if you get bitten.

A black widow spider on a web.
Photo by BrunoSchalch

Black widow spider

Black widow spiders live throughout the United States, but they prefer warmer regions further south. You’ll recognize the black widow by the bright red or orange pattern on its abdomen. Black widow bites can cause pain, muscle aches, nausea, and more. These bites can be fatal for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. If a black widow bites you, see a doctor for treatment. WebMD also recommends taking affected children to the emergency room.

A brown recluse spider.
Photo by Lisa Zins

Brown recluse spider

Sometimes called a violin spider, the brown recluse spider is characterized by its light bright color and violin-shaped body. The species prefers environments in the southern and western U.S., but it has also spread to the North. These venomous critters usually keep to themselves but will bite if provoked. Even if you don’t initially experience pain from the bite, you’ll want to see a doctor just in case. If left untreated, the bite can cause pain, develop into an ulcer, or lead to fever, chills, and (very rarely) seizures.

On top of everything else, it’s tarantula season

Bandelier National Monument is cautioning folks inside the park and throughout New Mexico to be on the lookout for wandering tarantulas.

Bandelier National Monument is cautioning folks inside the park and throughout New Mexico to be on the lookout for wandering tarantulas.

Not because the enormous and hairy spiders pose a threat, but because fall is when the normally reclusive predators begin their quest to find a mate.

Over the next couple of months, male tarantulas could be encountered on trails and roadways at any time of day throughout their U.S. range, mostly in southwestern states.

“This exposes them to many dangers, from hawks and skunks, which want to eat them, to fast-moving cars, to people who just find them creepy and think they should be squashed,” Bandelier National Monument stated in a news release.

The park asks hikers and motorists to watch out for them so they can admire them from a distance and leave them to their important business.

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“For the most part, they are easygoing creatures,” the news release continued. “They do have venom, but for the ones around here, it’s equivalent to a wasp sting.”

A sampling of tarantula fun facts, provided by Bandelier:

  •  Tarantulas have existed for more than 16 million years and more than 900 species can be found worldwide.
  • Tarantulas are carnivores that prey on beetles, centipedes, millipedes, and even smaller spiders.
  • Tarantulas are also prey. Hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, skunks, and snakes are among the critters known to snack on tarantulas.
  • Female tarantulas can live about 40 years, while male tarantulas mature in 2-5 years and seldom live much longer  – “partly because of having to go out and find a female.”
  • During the mating period, female tarantulas typically remain in their burrows. Males rely on hormone scents to locate females.”

Bandelier tells visitors to be unafraid, and even suggests that they might be able to help a tarantula if one has wandered into a precarious situation:

“If you see one of these males, be kind.  If he’s in a threatening location like a road or trail, and it’s feasible, consider helping him across with a piece of cardboard or a magazine for them to crawl onto. 

“Be aware for your own safety in that location! Place him off the road or trail in the direction he was traveling. Certainly, don’t squash him. Let him proceed on his mission to provide future generations of tarantulas. Hopefully these big hairy spiders will share the earth with us for another 16 million years.”