According to a poster on the Community of Airdrie Facebook page, a Black Widow spider was reportedly found in one Sagewood home recently.
While the poster, listed as Renée Marie, does not specify when the spider was discovered, she does confirm that the spider was exterminated.
"Heads up!!!!," she posts. "A friend of mine found this in her yard in Sagewood Airdrie….how scary 
They did kill it….but keep your eyes open guys! Never know if it any laid eggs…."
While rare to find Black Widows in the Calgary and Airdrie area at the extreme end of their range in the province, there have been a few reported instances over the years.
According to the Government of Canada, the Black Widow is "rare" and found "mainly in southern regions along the Canada-United States border."
With a a black colour and distinctive red hourglass-shaped mark on the underside of its stomach, it is difficult to mistake it for any other spider
"It spins a small, silk web close to the ground and is found in secluded places like garages and sheds, or under rocks or fallen trees when outside. It is not aggressive and prefers fleeing when disturbed, so it will only bite to defend itself," the Government's website reads.
While Black Widow spider bites are indeed rare, according to My Health Alberta, they must always be taken seriously.
- Get medical help immediately.
Call a poison centre (1-844-POISON-X or 1-844-764-7669).
- Remain calm.
Too much excitement or movement will increase the flow of venom into the blood.
- Apply ice to the bite area.
- Do not apply a tourniquet.
It may cause more harm than benefit.
- Try to positively identify the spider or catch it to confirm its type
Symptoms of a Black Widow bite
In most cases of a black widow spider bite, symptoms consist only of:
- Minimal to sharp pain followed by swelling and redness at the site of the bite.
- One or two small fang marks like tiny red spots.
In some cases, severe symptoms appear within 30 to 60 minutes. These include:
- Muscle cramps and spasms that start near the bite and then spread and increase in severity for 6 to 12 hours.
- Seizures.
- Chills, fever, nausea, or vomiting.
- Sweating.
- Severe belly, back, or chest pain.
- Headache.
- Stupor, restlessness, or shock.
- Severe high blood pressure
