In case you couldn’t tell by all the eight-legged creepy crawlies around the neighborhood, we’re smack dab in the middle of Seattle spider season . The goth-sounding time period is part of our wacko local calendar — right after Summer, the Sequel.
Early fall is when we can see certain Western Washington arachnids more prominently, but there are a few misconceptions around our web-slinging friends. So let’s detangle some of the spin.
Spidey senses tingling
Spiders didn’t just arrive now. They’ve been here in similar quantities throughout the whole year , if that makes you feel better (or worse).
Around this time, two local species reach maturity: the European orb weaver and the giant house spider. Both sound a little scary, but don’t freak out — neither are harmful to humans . They’re more visible these days because the male members of both species are at the end of their lifespan and doing everything they can to go out and find a mate. Awwww. Don’t you feel bad about washing them down the drain, now?
More local spider facts:
- There are 960+ spider species in Washington, more than every other state except Texas + California.
- Around 25-30 species live in Seattle.
- The giant house spider can grow to four inches in size — about the side of your palm. Try not to think about it.
How to deal
Experts say that the best thing to do is just leave indoor spiders alone . But if you feel you absolutely must get rid of them, don’t just carry the little critters outside in a cup since that’s actually harmful to them.
Instead, you can relocate house spiders to a garage, shed, or crawl space. That way, they can be away from your couch but still snack on tasty pests like flies or mosquitoes — and you can all sleep in peace.