10/14/2026
I thought I killed the wolf spider I took outside last night. It must’ve come in during the thunderstorm we had, but it was over and I wanted to make sure it got out safely and alive. Trying to place it onto a tree, I screwed up, and I dropped it like 20 feet. After a cursory internet search, I learned that falls like that cause large spiders’ abdomens to burst. It reminded me of when I took a mouse outside, and when I went to let it go, it bit me and I reflexively shook it off of me, sending it flying like a comet across my backyard. And it reminded me of people I’ve thought I was helping, making them feel seen and understood, but it may have been better if I’d just left them alone. Today I was assured by my most bug-loving friend that this spider shouldn’t have been harmed by the fall. It’s more of an injury that tarantulas face; this one was too light for a fall like that to be devastating. I’m so relieved that I most likely didn’t hurt the thing I was trying to help this time.
