Spider scares family out of home!

[my5cents]

You could just leave them alone. Spiders aren't really going to go out of their way to attack you, and they are quite beneficial in controlling other insects in the home and garden.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pes ... ex-eng.php
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/spiders.html

You are correct Lizard. For myself the only ones I kill are black widows. I reluctantly do so for personal safety. It's not like they are out hunting for humans it's just if we accidentally interfere with each other, the bite is too severe to play with.

[flamingfingers]

I don't think it is the ones you see that harm you... The ones you do not see (until you have interfered with them and have been bitten) are the dangerous ones. I have lived quite happily with black widows on my patio, in my shed, etc. and never have had a problem. But maybe it is just professional courtesy....

[my5cents]

I don't think it is the ones you see that harm you... The ones you do not see (until you have interfered with them and have been bitten) are the dangerous ones. I have lived quite happily with black widows on my patio, in my shed, etc. and never have had a problem. But maybe it is just professional courtesy....

Agreed, but if I kill the ones I see, then they (or their off spring) won't be available to be the one I don't see later.

[Lizard]

You could relocate them, rather than killing them.

[lilbuddy]

Just wondering was anyone ever bitten around here??

[dogspoiler]

I've been bitten by two of them, no doubt, I killed them both. Painful bites and a long time to heal, no other problems.

[AllthatFunk]

We used to have tons of black widows in our old place. My son loved to watch them build their webs and chow down on dinner. We always have at least one hanging around now as well. One lives under the siding by the water tap in my front yard. If I find one inside the house my son usually takes it outside for me. I hate spiders! Can't stand the creepy little critters. I've never been bitten by one, mostly because I avoid them like the plague, but also because I tend to always wear my gloves when I'm working in the yard.