Spider from Cades Cove

[DSGB]

I have no idea what kind of spider this is, but if I ran into him walking to my stand in the morning I'd be scarred for life. The leaf he is on is easily as big or bigger than my hand.

[TCFORLIFE]

Man thats a mean looking spider!!!!!!! Anybody know what kind it is?

[Tominator]

That's a wolf spider of some sort.

[M00N]

Nice picture. Looks like a wolf spider to me, but I can't see the eye rows clear enough to count them to rule out a fishing spider, which can look similar. Fishing spiders have two rows of eyes (4 & 4) the top row of eyes are always larger in size than the bottom row. Wolf spiders have three rows of eyes (2, 2 & 4) the top two rows, which consist of two eyes each, are larger than the bottom row of four small eyes.

Wolf spiders are rather harmless, unless you provoke them. If you provoke them expect a very painful bite. They are actually venomous, but unless you happen to have a serious allergic reaction to the venom it won't kill you, just cause you pain and suffering instead. Last time I went camping I had one the biggest wolf spiders I've ever seen decide to sleep above my head in my tent. Don't ask me how he got in, but he must came in during the day when I had the door open. Not exactly what you want to wake up and be staring at on the ceiling of your tent.

[woodsman2230]

Thats nuts....I wouldnt mess with that dude.

[wtnhunt]

That is a big wolf spider. We see them around here some, but they dont get that big around here.

[c_lou]

SQUASH goes the bug!!!! YUK city.

[bonehuntr]

That one looks like a man eater!

[Buckslayer]

Its a fishing spider. I have tons of pics of them. They grow larger than wolf spiders (fishing spiders get palm size+). When I worked as waterfront manager we had them on our docks all over the place. They can walk on water and are closely related to the wolf spider. Their fangs often extend to 1/4 " long, and are clearly visible. I advise killing the spider first if you want to look at its fangs. lol