You did the right thing. We live just north of where the black widow spiders are, so rarely encounter them. Of course, that is likely to change with global warming. Just a few degrees could make it so they can survive here.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Me and my friend were playing in my father's shed when we saw a black widow. We didn't know what it was because of our young age, but the size and markings scared us enough that we ran away shrieking and crying.

My father is normally scared of spiders, but had to do the protective dad thing and killed it. I remember him looking pretty white faced afterwards, but he seemed to get over it pretty fast when some other men came around to see what all the noise was. There were quite a few sheds cleaned that weekend.

Did you tell your neighbors too?

Wow! Thank goodness you weren't bitten, Stuart. I would also have flattened them flatter than flat. We have no nasty toxic spiders here that I know of, although some people react to spiders when bitten. Also no noxious snakes, which is why I'm quite easygoing about both spiders and snakes. My longsuffering spouse, on the other hand, has a real snake phobia, even over our innocuous types.

It does look remarkably like the black widow. I've run across a few of those in my childhood in South Carolina, and in my mother's Oklahoma garden, but not in my Austin garden . . . so far. I'll keep my fingers crossed. And watch where I put them.

Wow, that sounds scary! I also garden barehanded, so I thank the fact that we don't have any poisonous creatures arround here.

My dislike of gloves is only surpassed by my dislike of coming across spiders while weeding. I don't wear gloves typically, but always while weeding when I'm most like to run across a spider -- ick.

Cheers for the sentiments friends. And for the stories.

And who says that gardening isn't adventurous and risky?

Sherri - I will be passing it on as soon as I see them. Great point.

I don't miss them at all Stuart! My brother put one in his mouth when he was a baby, and my mum pulled it out..both without being bitten. But a close neighbor died after being bitten. Scary things.

Stuart, I mentioned you and this post on my blog today, to tell about my favorite garden gloves.

I'm very glad you didn't get bit. YIKES! Be careful!

I always wear gloves if there is any chance I might work in a place black widows might hide...I've gotten used to working with gloves although I have several types that work for different jobs. I'm too scared of being bit to take a chance! I'm glad you flattened them...in my yard we respect and thank the spiders but we smash black widows!

My son, David Perry, introduced me to your website recently. I was especially interested in the comments you received about the Red-backed Spider. These were somewhat indicative of most peoples attitude toward animals that can be dangerous but at the same time fascinating to observe. I have three Black Widow Spiders that I have been watching for the past few months and have been intrigued by them. I have never spent any time just watching spiders until recently but I have learned what interesting animals they can be. Even my wife checks on them every day. We now have four egg cases and are patiently waiting for the young to emerge so we can photograph them.

I remember seeing black widows as a kid when my dad was stationed in California. Now that I'm in NW Florida, I don't think I've seen one ever.

Around here, it's the dreaded brown recluse spider whose venom I've heard rumors will rot your skin from the bite out.

Can Redback bites kill a adult?