SCARY: Spider Found in Minnesota Who’s Bite Can Kill Humans
I was always under the impression that we didn't have any spiders that could kill us in Minnesota. I had always heard that we do have poisonous spiders here but the fangs are too small to pose a threat to us.
Boy was I wrong!
Turns out, there IS a spider that lives in Minnesota that CAN kill humans.
Great, first we find out that there's supposed to be a whole bunch of ticks this summer and now we learn that we do,in fact, have a deadly spider living in our midst.
READ MORE: Tick Explosion Expected in Minnesota this Summer
The Deadly Spider Found in Minnesota
Whenever I think of deadly animals or bugs I always think of two places: Australia and the southern US. That's where you've got the big bugs, venomous snakes, and scorpions.
But we do have a deadly spider living in our midst! And it's called the Northern Black Widow Spider.
You've probably heard of the black widow before.
Turns out, there are all kinds of black widow spiders out there that are named after the different regions where they can be found. For example, you have western black widows, southern black widows, and, yes, northern black widows.
And yes, these guys are poisonous. Michigan State University reports that northern black widows' venom is "15 times more toxic than that of rattlesnakes"!
What Happens if You Get Bit By a Northern Black Widow Spider
If you do end up getting bit, what happens? And what should you do?
Healthline writes that you should seek medical attention right away in order to avoid complications. When you're bit, you'll likely feel a little prick. However, unless you catch the spider biting you, you may not realize that that's what happened until shortly later.
After a little bit, the area where you were bitten will begin to redden and swell.
After a couple of hours but sometimes in as little as 15 minutes after the bite, the symptoms will get worse. It's common to "experience pain that’s not limited to the bite location." You may also get severe muscle spasms.
Other symptoms, according to Healthline, can include difficulty breathing, nausea, chills, a severe increase in blood pressure, headache, sweating, weakness, and fever.
Yes, their bite is more venomous than a rattlesnake, however, because of their small size, it's not as big of an issue.
Healthline writes that in rare and extreme cases "black widow spider venom poisoning may lead to seizures and even death." But, again, it's very rare. "Death generally doesn’t occur in healthy adults."
Where Black Widow Spiders Are Found in Minnesota
Even though it's rare to die from a black widow bite, it's still important to be aware when you're outdoors, like we are with ticks.
The University of Minnesota Extension says that black widows are rare in Minnesota, but the counties where they can sometimes be found, according to iNaturalist, are Houston, Fillmore, and Winona counties.
They also write that surrounding counties, so Mower, Olmsted, and Wabasha counties, should keep an eye out just in case.
The important thing to remember is if you are bitten by a black widow, seek medical help right away.
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