Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My gf and I found a large female black widow sitting on the wall in our garage. I caught it, put it in a container and asked her could we keep it. She slapped me and said no. Either way, now we are a bit worried. Should we call an exterminator? I really don't want to kill the spider, but I don't want to just let it go either. We have seven pets and don't want any of them getting bitten...any advice is greatly appreciated.

Black widows usually won't bite unless you frighten them, threaten their egg sacs, or shove your hand in their webs. But accidents can happen if you or a pet blunder into their web, and / or get them caught in your clothing. They will bite if they are pinned against your skin ( such as in a shirtsleeve or bedsheet situation). If you live in an area where black widows are abundant ( all of the warm states of the south and southwest ), this will not be the last black widow you encounter. Cooler states ( upper midwest, new england , etc. ) have much smaller populations of black widows. My advice would be, if you're not going to keep it or kill it- relocate it somewhere that no-one will bother it, like a plot of state land, because adult black widows, once established in a web, almost never leave it. Chances are it will build a web, and stay there for the rest of its life.