Wolf Spiders in Florida
Wolf spiders hunt in a unique way; instead of building webs, they hunt on the ground and chase their prey down – much like the wolves they’re named after. Like most spiders, they’re afraid of people and will scramble away if discovered. While they can hunt at any time of day, they prefer to hunt at night to avoid contact with humans. They can be very large spiders, so many people are afraid of them, and they can certainly be startling to come across unexpectedly; however, they aren’t dangerous to humans.
Wolf Spider Habitat
Wolf spiders are often found in leaf litter and grassy areas where they can find their prey. Some of them might build a burrow and defend the territory around it, but others are free-roaming. Since they manage the population of other pests through their aggressive predation, they’re actually quite beneficial – both to humans and the local ecosystem.
If you see a female wolf spider, you might find her covered in tiny baby spiders; they carry their spiderlings on their backs until they’re big enough to survive on their own.
Wolf Spider Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers
Wolf spider bites are exceptionally rare and are not dangerous to humans. As previously mentioned, they avoid contact with people and only bite when cornered.
If you are bitten, it may be painful and swell, but unless you are allergic to spider bites, you don’t have anything to worry about. If you experience swelling after a wolf spider bite, you can use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication and ice to keep the swelling down and ease any discomfort.
If you’re dealing with wolf spiders in your Florida home or business, contact the Arrow Environmental Services team for help.
