Holy cow! This is a big spider in Michigan!

[cinstress]

My boyfriend and our daughter were freaking out about a spider this evening that they found in our basement. I thought nothing of it until they trapped it in a glass. I just about jumped out of my chair! I took it outside and got a picture of it next to a tape measure. I hope the picture is good enough for identification purposes. I was too scared to get up close and personal!

We live in Grand Rapids, Michigan--not too many big guys like this around here. What do you think it is?

Cin

[Ungoliant]

Welcome to the forum!

this looks like a female dark fishing spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus), a member of the nursery web family. She may be gravid (pregnant).

Fishing spiders are active hunters that do not rely on webs to ensnare prey. Despite its common name, the dark fishing spider is often found far from water in wooded areas, where it lies in wait on vertical surfaces. You can learn more about them on this site's species guide.

These spiders can get quite large but are not dangerous to humans or pets. Fishing spiders don't normally live indoors, so if this spider wandered into your home, please put her back outside. She'll return the favor by eating bugs.