Spiders in Alaska? (Anchorage, Wasilla: for sale, apartment, home)

[Marty Van Diest]

Hmmm. If you could be a little influence on my daughter it would be good.

We do have daddy long legs...plenty of em.

[nwcountrygal]

Your from Western Washington Hello... We have reclouse and Hobo spiders that are rough if bitten. Alaska also southern I believe. Plus we have the wolf spiders that are horrible (sorry) in my mind, but just leave huge welts on you. Glad you admire them, love them with nets catching bug and staying away from biting me!

[warptman]

Don't worry about the spiders, it's the gnats and skeeters you have to worry about. They'll carry you off.

[gobrien]

I think it's time for my amusing tarantula story......I grew up in the interior of Alaska so my only knowledge of tarantulas was from those old nature films shown in school and on tv. I followed my parents to Arkansas where they retired back in the late 80's and was constantly horrified by the bugs. One day I was carrying a laundry basket into the house, from the laundry room that was just inside the entrance. All of a sudden, a tarantula jumped out and scuttled across the room and hid in the corner. It was my first time to see one, so I didn't know what to do. The films showed these aggressive tarantulas that would jump on a person to attack, so I steered clear of it and grabbed my phone. I called everyone.....animal control, the campus police, my parents, and a friend. What an idiot! My friend came over and squished it with a mop. Live and learn, there were many adventures to be had by an Alaskan girl transplanted to the south. To this day I can imagine the laughs that those animal control and campus police had at my expense!

[Jason28]

Kodiak is warmer than most areas so we tend to get some big spiders here. Also with all the ships in and out of here, God only knows what variety of them are currently taking up residence here. Personally, I have seen Hobo spiders here, which have a similar venom to brown recluse spiders. They are what I would call medium sized spiders. I've also seen a lot of random spiders I couldn't identify that were small to large sized. I've seen some here that would give spiders in North Carolina a run for there money in size. I keep a cat though and he eats them all.

[AADAD]

Originally Posted by ssouina

Did anyone actually read my post? I like spiders (seriously) so the tarantula and recluse gags aren't working. Serious responses are most welcome.

I have treated several people with recluse and widow bites who recovered but continue to have problems. Serious enough?

[JohnPF]

Recluse bites are horrible due to the enzyme they release into the victim. Flesh rots to no end...

[gobrien]

Originally Posted by JohnPF

Recluse bites are horrible due to the enzyme they release into the victim. Flesh rots to no end...

That was another horrifying thing I learned in Arkansas, a lady in my college class had a crater in her leg.

[JohnPF]

This, and the bacteria acting similiar that's found in lake or river bottom in the southern states. Last year a kid lost his face to this after he overturned few rocks on the bottom. I'm sure cures will be found but for now...

[ssouina]

Thank you for the responses. There are definitely no recluse in WA, though many folks think there are. I have heard of hobos and black widows in the Eastern half of the state. Supposedly, they are in Western WA but I don't know anyone who has ever seen one. I worked for years at a medical clinic in Seattle and we never saw any nasty spider bites. Did see a horrible iguana bite though (it was the person's pet). I would lilkely boot a recluse or hobo out of the house...the pics of their bites are nasty. However, I don't think anyone has ever been seriously harmed by a tarantula bite. They aren't any worse than a bee sting. Anyhoo, a place with no snakes and lots of spiders is good for me.