Don't Be Afraid! Duwamish River Spider Tour Will Fascinate You

SEATTLE, WA — Spider season is well underway in Western Washington. And that means big eight-legged creatures can be found hanging out everywhere from your vegetable garden to the space between your car door and rear view mirror.

For some, spider season can be the creepiest time of year, setting aside that Halloween happens to coincide with it. But there are lots of misconceptions about the spiders you see indoors and outdoors, no matter the size.

Two weeks before Halloween, the Duwamish Tribe Cultural Center and naturalists from the Seattle Parks Department will host a tour of local spider species along the Duwamish River — where, trust us, plenty of spiders can be found.

"Come dispel the fear and learn more about one of nature’s greatest architects at this lecture and hike around the Duwamish Longhouse and neighboring parks," the event description reads.

And it's true, there plenty of misconceptions about local spiders.

In 2017, Patch spoke to University of Washington arachnologist Rod Crawford about the biggest spider season myths. The most mind-blowing one: there really aren't more spiders around this time of year, it's just that the most common types are reaching maturity.

Another one: the much-feared hobo spider's reputation is probably overblown. People who get bit by spiders typically aren't spider experts, and probably wouldn't know the difference between a hobo spider and giant house spider (which, by the way, mostly keep hobo spiders out of urban areas).

There's a lot to learn, which is why you might want to consider putting your fears aside and learning more about your arachnid

If you go...

Spiders of the Duwamish
Saturday, Oct. 19, 1 to 3 p.m.
Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center
4705 West Marginal Way, Seattle