HUGE SPIDERS IN MY BACKYARD! I'm worried about my dog going back there!

[Milanizhere]

I just moved to a home in Duncaville, Texas and have noticed some fairly large
rodent looking holes in the backyard. I didnt think anything of them until i
saw what came out of one of them.... A very LARGE FURY SCARY LOOKING SPIDER!
I'm really afraid for my dog running and smelling in the back yard. Can someone
please help me identify?! The picture i am posting is of the smaller one i
found and to me, its huge. The bigger one i found was a lighter brown and as big
as my hand spread out. Please someone help im scared for myself and my dog!

[MyssArachnomancer]

Big does not necessarily mean bad with Spiders. Mygalamorphs, such as Tarantulas and Trap-Door spiders, are capable of a painful bite but are not dangerously venomous. They are more likely to flick little hairs off their abdomens, which act like 'pepper spray' and make your eyes and nose itch. The worse your dog would get is a sore nose and a good lesson. I'm not familiar with the species of Mygalamorph, but one of our members can help out more.

[Milanizhere]

Thank you so much... And hopefully one of the other members can please identify and give some additional information. A painful bite to me is not harmless. Yes, I am thankful that it's not venomous for my sake and my pets but I really need to know more... I have not been able to go in my backyard at night. Thank you again.

[Yogidbear8]

Having lived in Texas, Arizona Missouri, and New Mexico, your spider looks very much like one of the 30 -40 common brown tarantula i have caught and kept for various periods of time from that region. Theraphosidae Aphonopelma is the family and genus respectively. This is not a positive ID mind you. A person normally needs the spider in hand to be absolutely sure. Many Mygalamorphs have the same colors and are better identified after a molt for definitive patterns. I can say that I would much rather have these or similar in my yard than some of the ones I've got lol. The ground spiders are much less annoying than web builders in my opinion. The Tarantulas will take over abandoned rodent holes fairly quickly but when the food runs low, unless there are young or eggs involved, they move on just as quickly. Animals are usually fairly cautious of larger spiders so I wouldn't be scared for your dog at all. Any curiosity your dog would display would be curbed quickly by the hairs as described above. They are more active at night so the odds of paths crossing are low but you will see them from time to time if you spend a lot of time in their vicinity. My best advice is to just to try and keep your distance if you are not comfortable with them. And remember, if they weren't there, what they are eating would be, and most likely encroaching in your house.

[Phil]

Hello Milanizhere,

that indeed looks a lot like a tarantula, which in texas, are probably a good thing to have on your property

There are several burrowing species, and without better photos we can't guess to much I assume (though one of our experts might see something here our untrained eyes do not so I would wait for one of them to respond)

What I can tell you is we do not have any dangerous tarantulas in the US to you or your dog (your dog would definitely win btw hehe)

As someone said, some will flick urticating hairs (tiny barbed hairs) from their opisthosoma (abdomen) which depending on the spider, can range from a mildly annoying itch, to a painful burning anywhere they come in contact with your skin. I've personally felt the sting of many species, including some of the more severe ones like white knees and brachys, and while it was annoying, I wouldn't rate any of the hairs any worse then a brush in with poison ivy. Usually tarantulas that flick will have flicked before and have a bald spot, which yours seems to lack, so you probably don't have to worry about any urticating hairs.

I will add one minor correction. While we do not have any medically significant mygalomorphae here in this US, there are many in other countries such as Poecilotheria sp. & Pterinochilus sp. that pack quite a punch and will likely land you in a hospital if you suffer a bite.

Other mygalomorphae are some of the most dangerous spiders in the world, such as the spiders in the family Hexathelidae, most notably Atrax robustus - The Sydney Funnel Web Spider.

Were just lucky we don't have any of those bad attitude critters around our parts

[Milanizhere]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I just moved from Scottsdale, Arizona to Texas and did not have any spider issues. I have never seen spiders this large until I arrived here. I haven't even been in my house a month and I am ready to leave... but you have put a little relief in me knowing that the shooting hair is the most that may happen to my dog. I really truly appreciate your post... I would rather have these "harmless" creatures than one that may be poisonous. I thought it may be a tarantula but I wasn't sure. I didn't know Texas had tarachula's in what is almost near the city. I do have another question though... I did see one of these holes in my front yard with an interestingly thick web. I didn't think tarachula's made webs... could another creepy spider be residing there??? Thanks. Also, the other many many holes in my backyard I had my friend fill in with rocks... Is this something I shouldn't have done...? Will these spiders now be on the defense if they find another way out?

[Milanizhere]

This is a picture of what all the holes look like in my front and back yard... Do taranchula's build webs???

[Yogidbear8]

Tarantulas will put webbing in front of their holes as a detector of sorts for prey. They are not a true "web" builder like the orb weavers and their closer relatives. They will also use webbing as a liner in their burrows, (these connect to the outside ones you see so they have an idea of what is outside without exposing themselves), and for reproductive purposes. The holes that don"t have webbing could be for other animals, they could be connected unused holes, or are just unoccupied. Fortunately for all of us, spiders don't hold a grudge, they are very stimulus / response orientated and thankfully make great neighbors.

[Milanizhere]

Thank you so much! All of you have been very helpful and informative!

[Milanizhere]

OK!!! I'm so scared! I have seen 2 possible tarantula's again today!!! They looked liked babies compared to the picture I previously posted but they were still a size that is large compared to some other pictures I've seen posted on this website of other spiders. My mom video taped one as it died because I think the pesticides around my house made them sick. I feel really bad for them because obviously this was their home before I moved here but I am afraid of them and their look. I appreciate that they take care of the bugs but they are scary and I have burrows all over my front and back yard!!! Is their an organization that would be interested in capturing these for research purposes and/or other??? Someone please respond....