Is there any way to get rid of Brown Recluse spiders?

Factual Questions
21

Gaaahhkkkk!!! Even after reading two other poster’s reactions to the spider bits I just had to go and look…

Man, if there was something skittering around in my walls that could inflict that much misery from one bite I’d have to move, seriously. Even if you don’t get bitten one of the cats might…you know how they are with moving critters. Its all fun and games until one of them gets a spider bite to the paw. And from what I read after seeing this there isn’t a solid, reliable way to remove them completely. So its either find a way to live with some level of infestation or move on to another place. Or nukes form orbit which is of course the best option when dealing with devil creatures.

22

Hi. thank u for the funny posts from 2006. It is nice to find humor in such a horrific experience. I have no idea if you still get these messages or have this email account, but it doesn’t hurt to try. I have the spiders everywhere. I live with constant, low grade stress because of it. Did your problem get better? Or did you move?
Thanks for your help. I’ve even tried to reframe my experience of them and live in harmony. it doesn’t work. Now I am at war! One of us is going down and I don’t want it to be me!

Thanks again!

Laura

23

Hiya, Laura! Welcome to the SDMB.

This is an old thread, as you note, but there is still good information to be had.

Here is a website at the University of California Riverside that seeks to put to rest brown recluse spider myths and hysteria. In particular, take note of the “Brown Recluse Spider Map”, which shows their range, and “Myth of the Brown Recluse”, which deals with the fact that brown recluse spiders don’t much inhabit CA, but also has a lot of good information about the spiders in their native ranges.

I live in the middle of the Reclusa range (NE OK), know that they’re around and probably in our house but have never seen one. I have seen Black Widows, though, and pretty much know where they hang out. The website details common-sense precautions to take and I can verify that these work. Hope this helps, don’t live your life in fear.