Black Widow (Raleigh, Durham: houses, living, gardening)

[Aeroplan]

I am about to close on a house relatively soon. When the realtor showed me the house, I found a black widow in the garage. I don't know whether I should be concerned that there are more in the house. I have a baby and I am nervous about him being bitten. How common are black widows in Raleigh and how often are they found in a garage?

[Esperanza27713]

Black widows are common in NC, although I have to admit, I only remember seeing one upclose last year, and that's after 40+ years of NC living already under belt.

Of all the things to worry about, I would put this particular concern low on my list. Black widows like dark, out of the way places. Keep your baby out of the crawlspace and the dark recesses of the garage and you'll be fine.

[sacredgrooves]

Black Widows almost never enter the house. Garage and crawlspace almost exclusively. I see them in almost every crawlspace I go in (20 or so a week). No worries

[Aeroplan]

Thanks so much for the reassurance. I couldn't help but worry myself over all the frightening stories online of people finding multiple black widows in their homes. I'm so glad to know that black widows rarely enter the home!

[nclover]

We see one or two a summer but never in the house. They live in our stone walls and under the basketball hoop. Dark, quiet places...

[The Chosen One]

I see a lot of larger brown spiders. I don't know what they are, but they sure are quick.

[Waterboy526]

Originally Posted by nclover

We see one or two a summer but never in the house. They live in our stone walls and under the basketball hoop. Dark, quiet places...

So what you're saying is that you never use the basketball hoop?

[lamishra]

Don't be nervous about your baby. Black widows are timid, they're not agressive and they rarely ever come inside. If you find one in your gagrage, that's likely the only place you'll see it. I'm a native and have only ever seen a few my whole life here. Neither I or my children have ever been bitten by one and I don't think my children have ever even seen one. I do make them aware however when goin under the deck, playing in our natural areas etc. They know where black widows could be and it's just a matternof educating your children where not to play. Sticking your hand under a wood pile in a remote corner of a back yard in NC is not a wise thing to do.
If it makes you feel better, have a professional come and spray your garage and around the house. When working outside, wear gloves at all times. You may disturb one in it's nest and that is when it is most likely to bite. It's best to wear gloves in NC when working outside anyway because there are lots of biting critters in our yards (fire ants, ticks, spiders, skeeters etc) not to mention poison ivy and a random snake. It just makes sense to protect yourself. I don't work in the yard without: heavy gardening gloves, long pants, proper shoes which cover my whole foot, socks and bug spray. At hat won't hurt either.

[sweetpotater58]

Originally Posted by Esperanza27713

Black widows are common in NC, although I have to admit, I only remember seeing one upclose last year, and that's after 40+ years of NC living already under belt.

Of all the things to worry about, I would put this particular concern low on my list. Black widows like dark, out of the way places. Keep your baby out of the crawlspace and the dark recesses of the garage and you'll be fine.

This is true, i have found them in houses only in basements, in dark places, no place where you would want your baby to be.

[goat1of2]

Do heed the warning to wear gloves while gardening. I nearly grabbed a black widow once when I was shoving mulch, barehanded, under the azaleas! She looked at me, I looked at her, I retreated. Moral of the story: don't let your kids crawl around under shrubbery either.

Total black widows I've seen in 22 years in Durham: two. No need to freak.