What Are Wolf Spiders?
Wolf spiders are the most common spider species in the world. They get their name because they chase down their prey and pounce on it like a wolf. They’re usually dark gray, brown, or black but can have different patterns or markings. Based on where they live, these patterns can vary, as they mainly serve as camouflage for protection. Wolf spiders are also very hairy. And they're medium-sized — about 1/2 to 2 inches long.
Wolf spiders aren't venomous, meaning that they don't make or secrete venom (poison). But bites from any kind of spider have the potential to cause an allergic reaction in some people, so you still want to avoid getting bit.
Understanding Wolf Spiders
Spiders are in the large, diverse scientific class known as arachnida, along with ticks, scorpions, and mites. All arachnids have two body regions: a joined head and chest (cephalothorax) and an abdomen. They also have eight legs (four pairs), which help them walk, and one pair of specialized limbs called pedipalps that help them sense objects and catch prey. Male spiders can also use their pedipalps to transfer sperm into a female spider.
Female wolf spiders take good care of their babies. They attach an egg sac with as many as 100 eggs to the outside of their abdomen. Once the eggs hatch, the young spiders cling to their mother's hairy belly for a week until they're ready to go off on their own.
Spiders, including wolf spiders, are found across the U.S. and around the world. In fact, wolf spiders live on every continent but Antarctica.
There are more than 24,000 different species of wolf spiders. You can tell them from other types of spiders because they have three rows of eight eyes each. They also have two larger eyes in the middle. If you’re walking around in the dark and think wolf spiders may be nearby, use a flashlight. You’ll be able to see the light reflect off of their large eyes.
Wolf spiders don’t spin webs to catch prey. They're hunting spiders. They rely on their good eyesight to seek out prey at night. Then, they run very fast and chase it down. That may sound alarming, but wolf spiders are more of a nuisance to humans than a danger.
Where Do Wolf Spiders Live?
Wolf spiders live on the ground and like to quietly hide in places such as:
- Grass
- Under leaves and plants
- Under rocks
- Inside logs
- Gardens
- Under siding
- In stacks of firewood
- Beaches
- Open fields
- Along streams and lakes
All these places give wolf spiders somewhere to safely rest and still have easy access to prey. During the day, you may also catch them sunbathing to stay warm.
During the winter, when it gets colder, wolf spiders may find their way into your home. If so, you’re likely to spot them in areas such as:
- Garages
- Sheds
- Doorways and windows
- Closets
- Basements
- Around houseplants
- Behind furniture
While the sight of a wolf spider in your home might not make you happy, they're likely not thrilled about it either. While wolf spiders enjoy being in warm, humid places, they typically don't thrive indoors.
Are Wolf Spiders Poisonous?
"Poisonous" and "venomous" are different terms that are often confused with each other.
Poison and venom are both toxins, meaning that they can harm you. But you're exposed to them in different ways.
Poisonous animals or plants have poisons that you breathe in, touch, or eat. (Think of poison ivy.) They get into your body first and then find their way into your bloodstream.
Venomous animals or plants send their toxins directly into your bloodstream. For instance, they sting or bite you.
With that in mind, wolf spiders are not poisonous. They are venomous and can bite you if they're scared. But it's important to note that they don't make a venom that can harm you.
Wolf Spider Bite Symptoms
Although a wolf spider bite itself is not life-threatening, it can be painful. At first, your skin around the bite wound may also feel numb.
It will probably look a lot like a bug bite, although some types of wolf spiders can leave tiny marks that show where their fangs went into your skin. A wolf spider bite could be as small as a pinprick or as big as a bee sting.
It's also common to have mild pain, swelling, or itchiness around the bite, but these symptoms usually don't last long. The pain should go away within minutes. The swelling typically goes down more slowly, and the itching may linger a few days as your skin heals.
Wolf Spider Bite Treatment
Most of the time, you can probably treat a wolf spider bite at home. For instance, you can:
Keep it clean. Thoroughly wash the area with soap and water. If you can, use a mild, fragrance-free soap.
Prevent an infection. Use an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment three times a day.
Reduce swelling. Apply an ice pack for 15 minutes every hour. You can also try to elevate (lift) your leg when you can.
Relieve itching. An ice pack may also ease mild itching. If not, try an over-the-counter allergy medication. Look for one that says "antihistamine" on the label. This means that it will temporarily block your immune system from releasing histamine, which causes symptoms such as itching. If you're not sure whether this type of medication is safe for you, check with your doctor first.
When to see a doctor about your spider bite
There are a few reasons why you may still need medical treatment:
- Your bite could get infected.
- You could have a severe allergic reaction from the bite.
- You were bitten by another type of spider, such as a recluse spider or a widow spider, whose bites can cause serious symptoms.
Signs of an allergic reaction include:
- A rash or red line that spreads outward from the bite
- A bump that keeps getting bigger
- Facial swelling, especially around your mouth
- Trouble breathing
- Feeling dizzy
- Fainting
Signs that you may have been bitten by a spider other than a wolf spider include:
- Worsening pain and swelling (it may spread to other body parts)
- Intense stomach cramps
- Throwing up
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Fever
- Body aches
- A bite wound that looks like an open sore
- A bite wound that turns dark blue or purple with a red ring around it
If you or your child have any of these symptoms, go to an ER right away. Based on your symptoms, a doctor could:
- Prescribe stronger antihistamines to relieve itching on the wound site.
- Prescribe antibiotics if they suspect an infection or want to prevent one.
- Suggest surgery in rare cases where the wound is deep with a severe infection that is getting worse despite other treatments.
- Give you a booster for the tetanus vaccination to offer added protection.
- Give you an antivenom medicine through an IV (in your vein) if they suspect you were bitten by a spider other than a wolf spider.
Benefits of Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders are actually a beneficial (helpful) species. For instance, they eat a lot of bugs and insects that we humans consider pests, such as:
- Crickets
- Cockroaches
- Mealworms
- Beetles
- House flies
- Biting flies
Wolf spiders also sometimes eat other spiders and scorpions.
Because spiders in general are a key part of the ecosystem, you don't need to try to get rid of them in your yard or garden. If you find a wolf spider inside your home, you can use a container to gently catch it and carry it back outside where it can be released.
Risks of Wolf Spiders
By nature, wolf spiders aren’t aggressive to humans. They’ll only bite if they feel trapped and need to defend themselves. But you may get close to a wolf spider without realizing it and get bitten.
If so, keep an eye on your wound. Take steps to care for it at home, and if your symptoms don't improve or get worse, call your doctor right away.
Arachnophobia
Wolf spiders may also pose a risk to you if you have an intense fear of spiders (arachnophobia). About 3%-15% of people may have this condition. If you're one of them, seeing any type of spider, including a wolf spider, can cause symptoms such as:
- Sweating
- Dry mouth
- Feeling dizzy
- Chest tightness
- Trouble breathing
- A racing heart
- Feeling sick to your stomach
- Shaking
- Freezing up
- Crying
The cause of arachnophobia isn't clear. Anxiety may run in your family. Or you may have learned to fear spiders as a child, either from something that happened to you or because of how others around you reacted to them.
If left untreated, arachnophobia can cause you to avoid places where you're worried you may see a spider. The severe fear you have of them can start to interfere with your day-to-day life. If you think you might have arachnophobia, talk to your doctor. Different types of talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can help you manage it.
How to Avoid Wolf Spider Bites
There are lots of things you can do to prevent wolf spider bites or even avoid seeing them in the first place. Try to:
Be aware of your surroundings. If it’s dark and you're in an area where they're known to be, carry a flashlight with you so you can easily see around you.
Warn spiders that you're coming. Make noise to let them know you’re nearby and moving toward them.
Shake out items, especially if they've been sitting outside. Before picking up items such as boots and boxes, shake them to remove any spiders.
Cover up outside. Wear gloves when you're doing outdoor tasks such as gardening or moving firewood.
Tidy up the outside of your house. Keep it clean of trash and construction debris. Grass should be regularly mowed and bushes trimmed.
Clear clutter from your home. Try not to let mail, newspapers, magazines, or other items pile up in corners. It gives spiders a perfect place to hide.
Spider-proof your house. Make it harder for them to accidentally slip inside. Repair holes in window and door screens, caulk up holes in baseboards and walls, insulate crawl spaces, and make sure you have weather stripping underneath your doors.
You probably don't need to use a pest control product or hire a pest control service unless you have a lot of spiders inside your home. If so, make sure you understand which chemicals are being used and safety steps to follow, especially if you have small children or pets. Some pest control products come with health risks.
Takeaways
Wolf spiders aren't harmful to humans and usually bite only because they're scared. If you are bitten, home care, such as keeping the area clean and trying to reduce swelling, is usually all that's needed. If you think that the bite is infected or you have a severe allergic reaction, contact your doctor right away.