Dark Lady of the Shadows

Getting ready to wean the lambs takes some prep work. Fences have to be checked, hay feeder filled and the water tub turned over, ready to fill. Imagine my surprise when I flipped the black rubber tub over and found this large lady. She was pretty surprised too. Sorry the pictures are so fuzzy--I really did try. For about three seconds. She had quite a little secluded home until I came along and disrupted it all. Black Widow spiders are not that common but I have seen a few around here over the years. This has to be the biggest one though. I did a little reading on them after finding her, and found out that their bite is not the death sentence I had always heard. People can and do die from them, but mostly if you have a compromised health system to start with. They will make you ill and they can cause severe muscle cramps and other unlovely things. However they are extremely shy and non aggressive, so will seldom attack or go on the defensive. The exceptions are if you accidentally grab one, or threaten their egg sac.

They tend to make their homes low to the ground and in dark, concealed places---so be careful where you stick your hand when you are out and about on the farm!

I don't know where this lady will take up her new residency, but I do know every time I walk in that paddock I step high and feel uneasy!