Wolf Spider

Wolf spiders are named for the way that they sometimes chase down prey when hunting. But are also wolf-like in appearance with a relatively large size, and hairy body. They range in size from ¼” up to 1″ or more in length. Depending on the species, coloration is brown with gray, white, yellow, or black markings. With 8 eyes, this spider can see very well to the front and back simultaneously – an adaptation for hunting insects. Primarily an outdoor dweller, the wolf spider lives under rocks or builds burrows in the ground. Even though they have the ability to make webs, they rarely do, and they don’t do so to catch prey. These spiders do make it into the house sometimes, and can be fairly intimidating. They move very quickly, and are sometimes confused with the recluse. But they lack the telltale fiddle marking, and aren’t poisonous. Bites from the wolf spider cause a swelling and itching reaction similar to other non-poisonous spiders, but it’s uncommon for them to bite.