Hey! A Tarantula Bit Me!

What's a Tarantula?

A tarantula is a hairy spider that is part of the arachnid family, which also includes mites, ticks, and scorpions. Tarantulas are found all over the world and can grow up to 5 inches long, but those found in the United States are usually about 2 to 3 inches long (about the length of a crayon).

Tarantulas can be black, brown, gray, or even brightly colored. Most people are afraid of tarantulas because they are so large and weird-looking, but the truth is that these spiders are not dangerous. They live in nests in the ground and are pretty timid, avoiding people whenever they can.

What a Bite Looks and Feels Like

If a person gets bitten by a tarantula, the bite will probably feel a lot like a bee sting, with pain in the area of the bite. It will look like a bee sting, too, with redness and some swelling.

Because the tarantula's venom (poison) is weak, it's unusual to have more severe reactions involving other parts of the body.

What You Should Do

If you think you've been bitten by a tarantula, wash the bite with soap and water. If the bite hurts a lot, you can ask an adult for some pain medication. Placing an ice pack on the bite can also help.

What a Doctor Will Do

Allergic reactions to a tarantula's bite are unusual. But just like some people have allergic reactions to bee stings (like trouble breathing or feeling sick), some people may have allergic reactions to tarantula bites. If a doctor suspects that someone is allergic to a tarantula bite, he or she will treat the person with medicine to fight this reaction.

How to Avoid Getting Bitten

If you come across a tarantula, don't bother it or try to play with it. These spiders will not bite you unless they feel threatened — if you leave them alone, they will leave you alone.

Previous:

Next:

  • How to Teach Your Kids About Street Safety
    Roughly 70,000 people suffered injuries in pedestrian traffic accidents in the year 2010 alone, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Before you send your kids out to play in the neighborho
  • Hot Items Around the House That Are Dangerous for Kids
    Home is where the heart is, but your home can also be a dangerous place for your children if you arent careful about safety issues. Child-proofing cabinets and electrical outlets, using green cleaning solutions and keeping dangerous items out of reac
  • Lockdown Drills at Your Childs School
    Back in the 1950s and 1960s, students went through duck and cover drills in anticipation of a nuclear bomb blast. Today, students in K-12 classrooms and some universities go through regular school lockdown drills. Lockdown drills, required in most