Wolf Spiders: Why You Should NEVER Step on Them
Seen a huge hairy spider? It's likely a Wolf Spider. Learn why stepping on them releases hundreds of babies and how to catch them safely.
I see it all the time. A homeowner sees a massive, hairy brown spider on the garage floor. They panic. They stomp on it.
And then the nightmare begins.
Suddenly, hundreds of tiny baby spiders explode from the mother's body and scatter in every direction. It looks like a horror movie scene.
The Good Mom
Wolf Spiders are unique. They are the only spiders that carry their babies on their back. That "fuzzy" look on her abdomen? That's actually 200 kids hanging on for a ride.
If you squash her, the babies survive and run into your cracks and crevices. You just turned one spider problem into a hundred.
They Don't Use Webs
Wolf Spiders are hunters. They don't sit in a web waiting for food. They run it down like a cheetah. That's why they are so fast and why they scare people.
Are They Dangerous?
They look terrifying—some are as big as your hand. But they are mostly harmless. Their bite feels like a bee sting, but their venom isn't necrotic like a Brown Recluse.
How to Catch Them
Don't use a shoe. Use a glue board. Place it along the wall where they run. Or, if you are brave, put a cup over it and slide a paper under. Then toss it outside. They are actually great at eating roaches, so having one in the garden is a bonus.