The Tory Party

Black Widow in the Back Yard

I was dragging the trash around when I discovered this lovely just hanging out, nice and close to the handy pull-ties.

Sequence of thoughts:

• “Dag, that’s a black widow.”
• “It’s kind of pretty.”
• “It’s really big! Are they normally that big? The body’s as big as a dime… no, a nickel…”
• “Maybe I shouldn’t get that close to it.”
• “Should I kill it? Gah, I dunno, it’s not bothering anyone.”
• “I’ll warn the housemates that it’s back here.”
• “Oh, shoot, what if it bites one of the dogs?”
• “OH MAN IF IT BIT A DOG I’D… I’D…”
• “Where’s the Raid?”

I was sort of surprised by my mama-bear reaction. It could conceivably possibly bite one of the dogs, although it’s not in a usual dog-traffic area, and does not, to my awareness, smell like bacon.

What do you say? Should I kill it, or not kill it? Or Milgram a housemate into doing it?

**UPDATE 10/23***

Ah ha ha! All right. I’ll do some killing as soon as I gather my weapons: daylight, board, and a second-in-command. A very Halloween activity.

Board > Raid for thoroughness and entertainment purposes.