Spiders, spiders everywhere? Islanders are noticing more, and bigger, arachnids

Whether you love seeing them in and around your home or you jump on a chair at the sight of one, spiders appear to be prevalent on P.E.I. this year and they also seem to be a lot bigger than usual.

"The spiders are surviving, their lives continue. They're a very successful species," said Rosemary Curley, a retired biologist.

Anecdotally based on the dozens of social media posts from P.E.I. people seeking the internet's help to identify a strange-looking arachnid the eight-legged critters are indeed having a banner year on the Island.

The website iNaturalist.org, where the public can record their nature observations, contains hundreds of photos of various spider species in the past few months alone.

While it's impossible to get a truly accurate leg count, Curley said there are many reasons why P.E.I.'s spider population could be thriving this year.

"This summer was a nice and warm summer. That might have been helpful to spiders because there might have been some other insects that were more plentiful," she said.

"They have to have food, and the more insects there are, the better the spiders will like it."

Orb weavers most common

Known for their signature circular web designs, orb weavers are the type most often spotted around your home. They're also among the largest species you'll spot on the Island.

Spiders typically deposit their egg sacs in the spring, said Curley, so by this time of year they're fully grown adults and the females are nearly ready to lay their own eggs.

That, combined with the possible proliferation of edible insects over the summer, means people could be seeing some massive spiders hanging around.

Just in time for the spooky season, P.E.I.'s spider population is booming

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If you've noticed a lot of spiders and big ones around P.E.I. this year, you're not imagining things. CBC's Connor Lamont asked around to find out why the Island's arachnid population is exploding.

"This is the time of year when the female spiders are really getting big because they're full of eggs and they're getting ready to lay those eggs, so they balloon up quite a bit," Curley said.

This is welcome news if you enjoy having spiders around to eat other, peskier insects.If you don't, this knowledge might be nightmare fuel.

From fear to fan

That was the case for Jordan Griffin until he became a landscaper a couple of years ago. When he was younger, Griffin was afraid of the yellow garden spider, whose yellow and black markings look particularly ominous.

Because of his job, he knew he'd have to face his fear and overcome it.

"I was terrified at first." he said. "This yellow garden spider that to me was the be-all, end-all. I thought: 'If I can freehandle one of these without gloves or anything, then I'll kind of know that I'm over my arachnophobia.'"

Griffin said he's also noticed a spider "population boom" through his work. But he's definitely over his fear now, and has even become something of an advocate.

Some spiders can bite if they become defensive, he said, but the vast majority here on P.E.I. are quite docile creatures.

"I don't recommend going out and handling every one you see, but just bear in mind that they are very, very, very reluctant to bite," Griffin said.

"I just think there's a lot of misinformation. They're just trying to eat and reproduce."

Not anitsy-bitsy population

Like them or not, Curley said having a large number of spiders around will likely be more common if weather conditions remain favourable.

It's rare that the population can be significantly reduced from year to year, because most of the egg sacs survive the winterand few fall victim to predators, she said.

"They're part of nature and I think they're a good thing overall. Otherwise we might have way more insects that we don't like," Curley said.

"I sympathize with people who don't like spiders or they're scared of them. But you can avoid them. Just have sharp eyes and be on the lookout."