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Carolina wolf spider

Hogna carolinensis
Also called giant wolf spider, wolf spider

Big and fast but not dangerous: it may bite if grabbed or trapped against skin, which hurts like a bee sting and usually settles within a day.

Carolina wolf spider, photo 1
Photo: Russell Pfau, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist
SizeFemales 22–35 mm (about 7/8 to 1 3/8 inches); males 18–20 mm (about 3/4 inch) body length
Where in the houseBasement, garage, living room, windows and walls, outside near the house
WhenMostly late summer and fall, when males wander to find mates and females look for sheltered spots for winter.

Check these features

  1. Large, hairy, dark brown spider with scattered gray hairs and no bold pattern
  2. Darker stripe down the middle of the abdomen; legs solid brown without bands
  3. Eyes in three rows: four small on the bottom, two big ones facing forward, two more on top
  4. Female carries a round egg sac attached under the rear of her body, or babies on her back
  5. Runs fast across floors at night; builds no web

Bites and stings

Bites are uncommon and happen when the spider is grabbed or pressed against skin. Expect pain, redness and maybe local swelling, usually gone within about a day. Wash the spot, use a cold pack, and get medical care if redness spreads, the spot looks infected, symptoms last more than a couple of days, or there are signs of an allergic reaction such as trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat (call 911).

What to do

  1. Keep hands off; cover it with a large cup or container, slide stiff paper under it, and release it outside away from the door.
  2. If bitten, wash the spot with soap and water and apply a cold pack.
  3. Check for the tell-tale large forward-facing eyes and egg sac on the rear to confirm it is a wolf spider rather than a recluse.
  4. Shake out shoes, gloves and clothing left on garage or basement floors.

Look-alikes

Brown recluseA recluse is much smaller (about 3/8 inch body), smooth and tan with a dark violin mark and six eyes in pairs, while a wolf spider is large, hairy and stripey with two big forward eyes and no violin.
Hobo spiderHobo spiders build sheet webs with a funnel retreat, have smaller, evenly sized eyes in two rows, and occur mainly in the Pacific Northwest, while wolf spiders make no web and have two very large front eyes.
Fishing spiderFishing spiders have longer, more widely spread legs with light-and-dark bands and are usually near water or on walls, while the Carolina wolf spider is stockier with plain legs and stays on the ground.
Rabid wolf spider and other wolf spidersSmaller wolf spiders often have bold pale stripes on the front body; the Carolina wolf spider is the largest and plainest brown.

Why it came inside

It lives in burrows and under boards, stones and siding outdoors; it wanders in through gaps under doors and around windows while hunting at night, and adults look for sheltered places in fall.

Keep it out

  • Fit door sweeps and weatherstripping on exterior doors, including the garage entry.
  • Seal gaps around windows, pipes and the foundation with caulk and repair window screens.
  • Move boards, stones, firewood and heavy mulch away from the foundation.
  • Put sticky traps along walls in basements and garages, out of reach of kids and pets.
  • Reduce outdoor lights near doors, which draw the insects these spiders hunt.

What helps

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Door sweep

Closes the gap under an exterior door. If you can see daylight under the door, bugs can get in.

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Weatherstripping

Seals the gaps around doors and windows that let in drafts and bugs alike.

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Caulk and sealant

Silicone or siliconized acrylic caulk closes cracks around windows, pipes and baseboards. Bigger gaps need foam backer rod or expanding foam first.

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Screen repair kit

Patches or replaces torn window and door screens, one of the most common ways insects get in.

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Sticky traps

Flat glue traps set along walls and in corners show what is moving through and where. Place them where pets and children can't reach.

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Bug catcher

A long-handled catcher moves a spider or insect outside without you having to touch it.

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Vacuum with a hose

Lets you remove bugs, webs and egg sacs without touching them. Empty the bag or canister outside right away.

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Sources

  1. Penn State Extension
  2. Missouri Department of Conservation
  3. Oklahoma State University Extension
  4. Oregon State University Extension

Checked October 18, 2026. Rating backed by 3 sources. How we rate danger.