Sheila the Wolf Spider

Summer 2009

We don't have very many spiders at this altitude.  A black widow with black shiny body and red hourglass on her belly lives quietly under the septic cover near the garden. She doesn’t bother us and we don’t bother her; it is a case of mutual respect.  As far as I know, black widows are the only “dangerous” spiders in Colorado.

Last week, Marisha came inside asking about a hole that had appeared in the pathway to the vegetable garden.  I assumed that it was the result of something sticking into the ground.  When I went to look, I found an oval hole, quite deep, about 1 1/4’ in diameter.  It was obviously made by an animal; as we approached, something stirred. 

We got a flashlight and carefully peered in.  About 4” down a line of four tiny electric blue eyes stared back at us. Marisha kept watch and called us when a large spider slowly emerged.  It was hard to tell what it was at first; I assumed it was a tarantula because its body seemed fuzzy.  Looking closer, we could see that the 1 1/2” body was covered with tiny gray baby spiders, all crawling around.  The legs were bunched up but probably each 1” long, thin and hairless. 

I suggested we call the spider “Shelob” after the giant spider in Lord of the Rings.  Marisha said she looked too nice and suggested she be named “Sheila.”  At first I though the spider might be a kind of hairless tarantula that lives in Southern Colorado.  Eventually it became clear that Sheila is a large Wolf Spider.  These dig tunnels and some erect towers around their burrows.  They carry their babies on their backs.

Over the next few days, we visited Sheila and her babies every morning.  She would come out to bask in the sun and let her babies go for a walk.  Any sudden movement or shadow and babies and mother retreated in a flash down their hole.

A few days later we found another spider hole nearby with a fine collection of sticks around its entrance.  The characteristic line of bright blue eyes glinted up at us from the dark.  Marisha called this one “Alex.”

Then there was a violent rainstorm.  Afterward, Alex’s hole was collapsed and Sheila was not in her hole.  All her hundreds of babies were grown to 1/4” across and were wandering around their home.  I just now checked, and they are still there, shooting into the hole when I approach.