One Big Wolf Spider

As I leisurely urge the lawnmower across the rough hay something scurries ahead. My first impression was that I had distressed a small rodent, but upon closer inspection I find that it is one of the largest wolf spiders I’ve ever encountered. My first inclination is to grab it before it gets away, but remembered immediately that even though these spiders are not poisonous they can still bite. I hurriedly ran to the house, grabbed a peanut butter jar and luckly when I returned it was still there. I then placed it into a plastic bin that I had in order to photograph it.
As I nervously brought the lens of my Lumix as close as possible I couldn’t help but think it would at any moment pounce on my shaky hand. I know of many folk that would’ve stomped it into oblivion- just because. Little do they know that these wolf-like predators are not only harmless, but play an important role in keeping insect pests in check.
In order to get a sense of its enormity I placed my hand beneath it…..under the container of course :-)