Welcome to the country, big spider edition

[masraum]

Some of you may remember my previous threads. One where Matt Davis and I were up close and personal with a rat snake at my front door or the other where I stepped on a copperhead that, fortunately, didn't strike.

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1092098-welcome-country-snakes-edition.html

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1093841-welcome-country-snakes-edition-part-deux.html

I think he wanted to borrow some sugar, but seemed to be digesting a mouse



Fortunately, this guy was too cold to care.


I've run into a bunch of scorpions around the property. Most of them are pretty small, and usually hiding under or behind something. I did almost pick one up once that was on a pair of gloves in the garage. I also stepped on one in the kitchen a couple of days ago. I think the only reason that happened was that I'd sprayed some Demon WP in a couple of spots (behind/under the stove, fridge, washer/drier, etc...) and he was dying. None of the scorpions have done anything or acted aggressive/defensive. They've all seemed far more interested in leaving, hiding and being left alone. And I'm happy with that.

Yesterday, I was finishing up some mowing and noticed this guy wandering through some recently mowed grass. Yes, it's a tarantula. I'd heard that they were in the area. Fortunately, this wasn't any sort of surprise or shock. It's not like it crawled up my leg or something. It was smaller than I had expected, halleluiah! It was just trying to leave. It never reacted and in the one photo, my hand is probably within 1" of the thing. I tried to get in front of it to get a photo of it coming toward me. When I got in front of it, it crawled down into the grass and "hid." I walked around behind it and a second or two later it crawled back up and kept going. It never postured or anything.

I took a few photos and left it to do it's thing.



for some size reference


next to the toe of my rubber boot for size reference


I don't think I'd previously posted these of another snake that I ran across.

Eastern yellowbellied racer





And I saw another small one down by the water, it was small and thin with a dark or black body and what looked like blue or turquoise stripes. I didn't get a photo or even a good look.

[Zeke]

I think I'd much rather deal with a tarantula than any snake. I think some even keep the big spider as a pet. I know people keep snakes in terrariums but no thanks for me. I won't keep a bird in a cage either.

Frankly, I'm a city boy all the way. Been out in the wild at times from camping on Lake Havasu (scorpions galore at night) and up near Lake Tahoe camping on a river. But I bet I would have moved out of your house by now reading about your encounters. I've got enough on my mind to not want to worry about every step and reach.

Screw that.

[Evans, Marv]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I think I'd much rather deal with a tarantula than any snake. I think some even keep the big spider as a pet.

About four years ago during winter my wife was getting ready to back out of the garage to go to work. We'd opened the door and as she was starting to back out, I noticed a small (juvenile I think) tarantula that had siddled up against the door. I asked if she would like to take it to show the kids - which she did. Now she still has that spider in a glass terrarium in her office. She takes him around on her hand and the kids love it and will sometimes touch it and let it crawl on their hands. When a kid is upset she lets him or her come in to watch "George" for a while. He eats a cricket once in a while, has water, & things to hide in. She told the Superintendent George should be paid, which he laughed at. But after seing how the kids take an interest in George, he agreed but didn't offer a salary.

[Zeke]

Cricket budget. Watch the heads turn when that shows up on the expenses list. Yes, pet stores sell crickets.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I think I'd much rather deal with a tarantula than any snake. I think some even keep the big spider as a pet. I know people keep snakes in terrariums but no thanks for me. I won't keep a bird in a cage either.

Frankly, I'm a city boy all the way. Been out in the wild at times from camping on Lake Havasu (scorpions galore at night) and up near Lake Tahoe camping on a river. But I bet I would have moved out of your house by now reading about your encounters. I've got enough on my mind to not want to worry about every step and reach.

Screw that.

I'm not phobic on snakes or spiders. Stepping on the copperhead got my adrenaline pumping, but once I knew he was there, I went out to visit/observe him several times over the next 2-3 hours, and eventually made a snake hook and moved him. I respect snakes. I don't want them to feel so threatened that they feel the need to bite/strike. The same goes for the tarantula.

That said, I don't want to be surprised by any of that stuff, and you're EXTREMELY unlikely to ever find me with a tarantula crawling on my hand. I'm a city/suburb boy myself. I've been in the boy scouts and done some camping, but that's not the same. I'm happy to live and let live. As long as no one tries to take a bite out of me, we'll live and be allowed to go our separate ways.

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

About four years ago during winter my wife was getting ready to back out of the garage to go to work. We'd opened the door and as she was starting to back out, I noticed a small (juvenile I think) tarantula that had siddled up against the door. I asked if she would like to take it to show the kids - which she did. Now she still has that spider in a glass terrarium in her office. She takes him around on her hand and the kids love it and will sometimes touch it and let it crawl on their hands. When a kid is upset she lets him or her come in to watch "George" for a while. He eats a cricket once in a while, has water, & things to hide in. She told the Superintendent George should be paid, which he laughed at. But after seing how the kids take an interest in George, he agreed but didn't offer a salary.

Wow, that's a very cool story.

[Nostril Cheese]

Ever see a tarantula molt? Pretty amazing to watch..

[Scott Douglas]

I was getting a bag of bark out of our shed yesterday and there was a black widow sitting in the middle of its web which was between the bag of bark and spare tank of propane. It didn't last long as they are not welcome around here. I don't think poisonous snakes would either. They have their place in the ecosystem but not in any part of the civilized area I occupy.

[Skip Newsom]

Up here in the PNW we have almost zero creepy crawlies to worry about other than the Brown Recluse spider, its very rare to see them.

I spent my early years to age 8 in Missouri and Kansas which gave me a healthy respect/fear of snakes in general, and some spiders.
I'm glad not to worry about stepping on anything here traipsing through the woods!

There are a few large furry critters to keep an eye out for though...

[Pazuzu]

Trantlers are nothing to be concerned with. The kids in AZ catch them and play with them.

Scorpions? They are like mosquitos, they have no reason to exist on a modern planet, they are ancient murder machines and must be eradicated.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I was getting a bag of bark out of our shed yesterday and there was a black widow sitting in the middle of its web which was between the bag of bark and spare tank of propane. It didn't last long as they are not welcome around here. I don't think poisonous snakes would either. They have their place in the ecosystem but not in any part of the civilized area I occupy.

Yep, I'd probably squish, spray, kill a black widow.
There's a sugar hackberry tree near the house. Next to that there's a crape myrtle, and with those there is some yaupon and possumhaw (deciduous yaupon). It makes a little "thicket." I've been planning to thin out the thicket because it's near the house and is a place where snakes would like to hide. Today I had confirmation.

broadbanded copperhead

Originally Posted by Skip Newsom

Up here in the PNW we have almost zero creepy crawlies to worry about other than the Brown Recluse spider, its very rare to see them.

I spent my early years to age 8 in Missouri and Kansas which gave me a healthy respect/fear of snakes in general, and some spiders.
I'm glad not to worry about stepping on anything here traipsing through the woods!

There are a few large furry critters to keep an eye out for though...

I think I'd be happier with bigger, furrier critters.

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Trantlers are nothing to be concerned with. The kids in AZ catch them and play with them.

Nope, no effin way. Observe, sure, catch, maybe if I felt the need, but play with, nope.

Scorpions? They are like mosquitos, they have no reason to exist on a modern planet, they are ancient murder machines and must be eradicated.

at least the ones that we have here are small. I think the scorpions that I've seen here would fit on a quarter when their tail is curled up.



It's not like it's one of these.

[Pazuzu]

The smaller the scorpion, the more dangerous. The small ones depend on their venom to fight and kill, while the big ones (the big black desert ones) can actually fight and catch prey with their claws. You got the small bark scorpion, and they are nasty. Don't underestimate them. Keep a blacklight by the back door if you take the dogs out for a walk at night.

[vash]

i was halfway into a 1 hour commute this morning. called my wife to chat.

she reports seeing a giant spider. after a WAY TOO LONG conversation with me asking how big the spider was:

"is it big?"
yes
how big?
pretty big
bigger than an inch?
the body?
toe to toe
on the diagonal?
just a rough estimate
about an inch
bigger than an inch or smaller?

i suggested she shop vac that thing up after a WAY TOO LONG conversation about where it was....

i called her back to ask how it went.

"oh it disappeared."

FAACK.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by vash

i was halfway into a 1 hour commute this morning. called my wife to chat.

she reports seeing a giant spider. after a WAY TOO LONG conversation with me asking how big the spider was:

"is it big?"
yes
how big?
pretty big
bigger than an inch?
the body?
toe to toe
on the diagonal?
just a rough estimate
about an inch
bigger than an inch or smaller?

i suggested she shop vac that thing up after a WAY TOO LONG conversation about where it was....

i called her back to ask how it went.

"oh it disappeared."

FAACK.

Hahahah! Great story.