The Black Widow Spider This little spider is easily recognizable by the red hourglass shape on its belly. Despite its fearsome reputation, it is very timid, and will avoid people if it can. It likes to live in dark, out-of-the-way places. (Many people used to be bitten when they sat in outhouses. Most of the victims were men... anything dangling below the seat was in prime black widow territory!)As late as the 1950's, five to ten people (mostly children and the elderly) died yearly in North America as the result of black widow bites, but since then, deaths are extremely rare. Western Canada has never had any recorded deaths. Symptoms such as nausea, muscle cramps, and clammy skin, usually disappear after a few hours. In extreme cases, (small children), there is an antivenom available. The Prairie Rattler This rattlesnake can be up to five feet or more long, and can be found in the south of Alberta. They will avoid people if they can, but like all venomous snakes, they will strike if cornered. Often, however, they will not inject their venom, which they prefer to save to kill their prey.A hundred years ago, 20% of victims died. Now, with anti-venom available, there has not been a recorded death in Canada for many years. The bite itself can be serious if not treated; unconsciousness, convulsions, and the loss of a limb are all possibilities. But for a healthy adult, a bite is usually not life threatening. The Scorpion Yes, there is a scorpion native to Alberta... it lives in the dry grasslands in the south of the province. It's not very big... maybe 4 cm when stretched right out. It lives beneath rocks or fallen logs, and stings its prey with its tail.Scorpions in Canada are only active in summer; they survive the cold winters underground, and can reduce the amount of moisture in the cells of their body to avoid the worst effects of freezing! This species of scorpion is not lethal to man; its sting is much like that of a bee, and the symptoms and treatment are about the same. (There is little data available, as very few people have ever been stung by one). If you'd like to find out about a really deadly scorpion, visit our DeathWalker Scorpion page! |