Tangled in the web? Abundance of spiders due to weather

  • Published
  • By Kandis West
  • Tinker Public Affairs
They are coming out the woodwork, literally.
   Spiders can be spotted just about anywhere and it appears to be an infestation.
   However, Tech. Sgt. Jeffery Joy, non-commissioned officer in charge of Community Health, warns people not to get tangled in a web of deceit. He said it is the wet weather that is bringing them out of their normal habitats, not an increased amount of spiders.
   "Spiders dwell in the ground and as rain comes down, it forces them out of their homes," the sergeant said.
   He said it was reported that the rainfall is two inches above the record set in 1908.
   Although they may look scary and are a phobia of many, most spiders are not poisonous. The two prominent poisonous spiders in Oklahoma are the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow, Sergeant Joy said.
   Both spiders can be found in dark, undisturbed areas in or around the house.
   Recluse spider bites affect a local area around the site of the bite and the reaction can be immediate or delayed. The bites can deteriorate the skin and tissue around the bite site. Symptoms can include chills, nausea, weakness or joint pain within 24 to 36 hours of the bite. Healing times and the complexity of the scars vary depending on the amount of venom injected.
   "You could lose fingers depending on the amount of venom," Sgt. Joy said.
   Widow spider bites may feel like a pin prick. The reaction is systematic, Sgt. Joy said, with toxins entering the blood stream and shutting down systems. Symptoms include vomiting, leg cramps, abdominal pain, and profuse perspiration among other things.
   Sergeant Joy said if you are bitten by a spider, seek medical attention immediately and try to collect the spider if you are not at risk of getting bitten again.
   Spiders are much more helpful, than they are harmful, the sergeant said.
   "Spiders do good things to help keep our eco system in balance, so don't think you have to kill every (one) you see," he said.
   "If they're out their minding their own business, let them do their thing."
   Protect yourself against spider bites
   · Don't reach in dark areas without gloves on.
   · Eliminate piles of debris around the house.
   · Stay away from fallen trees and branches.
   · Shake shoes out before you put them on.
   · If spiders are a problem around your home, seek the professional help of an exterminator.