Anyone had a Brown Recluse Spider Problem?

A good friend called today to ask to borrow my pet taxi so she could move her cats to her mom's house temporarily.  Why?  Apparently this spider has taken up residence on her second floor.   She was given some sticky traps, set them out and when she came back home the next day, there were 12 of them on the traps.

She has called various exterminating companies in the area and they all gave her verbal estimates of nearly $1000.  She was also told not to use any over the counter products in the meantime because it may interfere with their chemical treatments. 

Seems like a lot of money to get rid of some spiders, but on the other hand, I know these spiders are very dangerous and she wants to make sure they are posing no further threat.

Anyone have any past experience with these little monsters? 

My heavans, I would pay what ever necessary to rid my house of them...arggggg!!   What area do you live in? I don't know that there are any here in Oregon-haven't heard-I hope not!....Toni

Her and I both live in St. Louis City.  I know these spiders are regional and are known to reside in Missouri, but I thought they would be found in a more rural setting rather than the city.  Recluses are very aggressive as spiders go, and she had a bad feeling when one jumped out of her bedroom dresser.   After she killed it, she took the dead spider to an exterminator to check and he verified that it was a brown recluse.  Such a fuss those little creatures can cause!

Scheidgirl___OREGON:

I don't know that there are any here in Oregon

Just googled them and it looks like they are indigenous to the midwest mostly.  You are safe from them in Oregon, Toni :)

Oh, thank you. I have an unreasonable fear of spiders, having been bitten by a black widow that took months to get over. Toni

Unfortunately, they thrive down here!  We have HUGE ones!  I have killed several that had legs between 1 1/2 2 inches long!  Their bodies were about as big around as my finger.  We call them Violins because of the fiddle shaped marking on their thorax.  I HATE spiders!!!!  They are fond of getting on the ceiling where they can drop down on my unsuspecting head, so I scan the ceilings when I enter a room for anything that doesn't belong there!  It has been said that their venom has some sort of anesthetic in it because you don't feel them bite.  How could anyone not feel one of those humongous ones bite???  I examined one thatI killed with Raid Wasp & Hornet Spray(wonderful stuff!)  & I could actually see its fangs & they were about a quarter of an inch long!  I need to get off of this subject or I'm going to have nightmares!!!

Years ago at the factory I worked at in Middle GA one of the supervisors felt something on his leg, and slapped at it through his pants. Turned out to be a brown recluse that bit him, and it took him months to get over it. He was hospitalized twice. We were told the spider likely came into the factory from a shipment of something. We were also told - and I'm not sure how true this is - that the poison travels down in the body. He was bitten near the knee, and the swelling and other problems were from the knee down. I'd hate to guess what happens if one gets bitten on the head!

I knew someone in San Diego who got bit by one.  Her arm swelled up and got greenish lines running down it.  Frighteningly, the doctor said there was nothing they could do, and that she would either recover on her own or lose the arm. She did recover, but as BFC said, it took over a month.

Very scary.  $1000 to ensure that you and your household are safe?  I'd pay it.

Truth be told, you can't be assured that they are not in your area. I read an article about them that said they spiders are being spread throughout the country via cars and trucks. The monsters hitch a ride, so you never know where they will turn up.

 

I also heard that there is a treatment protocol for them, but the key is knowing that you've been bit by a brown recluse spider. Often the issue goes undiagnosed, which is when you get into trouble.

i did have a problem with spiders..the ants are attacking the spiders..now if i can find something that attacks the ants..my new problem are squirrels..apparantly their living inside my dd walls..she hears them scratching

And yet another reason for me to stay in NY, LOL.

PalominofillyinMS:

They are fond of getting on the ceiling where they can drop down on my unsuspecting head, so I scan the ceilings when I enter a room for anything that doesn't belong there!

uh oh, she's already shaking out all her clothes before putting them on, better tell her to look at the ceiling while she's at it.

hmm, I'll have to ask her if she had anything they could have arrived in via box...I'm sure going to make sure I check the box out thoroughly from now on when I get anything delivered.

Thanks for all the replies, I'm going to print this out and give it to her tomorrow.  The more info, the better!

No problems with them. only scorpions and copperheads. The little dog got bit yesterday for the 5th time.

Gosh, I never even saw one when I lived in St. Louis. I Would a regular spray work, or is there a special solution? Ortho home defense is worth a try. Have her google them to learn about them...usually they like dark basements, or woodsy areas. I sure hope they get taken care of.

Well we live in PA and last year my 6 year old got bit by one.  We don't know where it came from and he didn't even know he was bitten... until his leg swelled up twice the normal size from the ankle to the thigh and turned purple...  He was very sick for a few weeks and then slowly recovered but still has problems with that leg.  And a huge scar!  Where the bite was, the venom actually ate away at the flesh.  It was disgusting!