As Temperatures Drop, Spiders Are Seeking Shelter Indoors

Spiders Are Moving In — And I’m Moving Out

They creep, they crawl and yes, you could say that I'm not a fan of spiders. At all!

It’s that time of year again in South Dakota — the leaves are falling, the air’s getting cooler, and apparently, every spider in the state thinks my house is a five-star winter resort. From wolf spiders the size of small hamsters, these eight-legged freeloaders are making themselves at home. Spoiler alert: I’m not a fan.

So why are spiders crawling indoors right now? It’s not because they love us (thank goodness). Here’s why they’re packing their tiny bags:

• Mating season: As temps drop, male spiders get extra motivated to find a date. Sadly, their search radius includes my living room.
• Survival: My home apparently doubles as their heated bunker for the winter. Cozy for them, nightmare for me.
• Food source: When bugs move in, spiders follow. Great — now I have two problems.

Here are the common creepers you might spot sneaking in this fall across the state of South Dakota:

• Wolf Spider: Big, hairy, and fast. They don’t spin webs — they hunt. Thankfully, they’re harmless, unless scaring you counts as a crime.
• American House Spider: Builds messy cobwebs in corners. Not dangerous, just lazy.
• Cellar Spider (Daddy Long Legs): Tiny body, mile-long legs, and they multiply faster than bad ideas.
• Barn Funnel-Weaver: Hides in basements and sheds, building little silk tunnels of horror.
• Yellow Sac Spider: Likes to camp near ceilings. Might bite if trapped in your clothes. Sleep well!
• Western Black Widow: Out west in the Black Hills area, Shiny black, red hourglass, and yes — that one. If you see her, back away slowly and call someone braver than you.

Want to keep them out? Here are a couple of 'Captain Obvious' things you can do.

• Seal entry points – Caulk cracks, gaps, and mystery holes.
• Reduce other bugs – No food, no spiders.
• Keep it clean – Vacuum webs, dust corners, and clear out junk piles.
• Tidy the yard – No leaf piles or wood stacks near the house.
• Spray the Perimeter - I buy a gallon jug of spray at ACE and hit the perimeter of the house as well. It seems to help!

So as the spiders move in for fall, I’ll be moving out to the deck with a broom and a can of bug spray — just in case.

How about you? Are you a fan of spiders, or a little more like me! I'd love to hear your spider stories. You can email me anytime. jdcollins@kikn.com.