Injured wolf spider? (Winston-Salem, NC)

[kristal]

I found this little spider (roughly 1/2" long) in the bathroom this morning. The bathroom of the house we rent has an exterior door that is likely not well-sealed, so that is a probable point of entrance. Does this look like a wolf spider?

I have read that these are not dangerous to adults or pets, but the reverse is unfortunately not true. One of my cats swatted it and hurt its legs. I usually release spiders outside, but is there a kind alternative for this one or should I just go ahead and do the same thing?

Also, would a spider like this pose harm to a baby? We have a 2-month old in the house.

Thank you!

[Eric]

Hi, Kristal:

No worries, they do not pose a health threat, even to small children, assuming your child is normal and healthy....

If it isn't dead in the image, then it will be soon. You could freeze it to finish it off I suppose. That is considered the most humane method, and certainly the least toxic to the spider and your family.

Looks to be a young Rabidosa rabida. They get much larger, about 3/4 of an inch or so in body length alone.

Eric

[kristal]

Thank you for your informative reply! I do enjoy learning about the different spiders I encounter (this is such a great site!) and am sorry that this little one happened to meet my cat first.

[Eric]

You're welcome, Kristal! We look forward to helping you again, any time :-)