If you’re not a fan of spiders, wolf spiders might stop you in your tracks. Wolf spiders tend to be big and hairy, making them a little scary looking for anyone with arachnophobia. Have no fear, though; these spiders won’t hurt you. They aren’t aggressive toward humans, and even if they do bite, their bite isn’t dangerous to people.
Wolf spiders are common, and there are lots of them, with between 2,000 and 3,000 wolf spider species in the world. Illinois is home to 47 wolf spider species. Wolf spiders are cool for many reasons, but one of the things they are most known for is how the females care for their babies. Female wolf spider carry their eggs around in a sac. Once the eggs mature, she rips open the sac to help the babies emerge. Then the babies crawl up on their mother’s back to hitch a ride until they are old enough to survive on their own.