Are black widows found in Alabama?

Although black widows are a relatively new species, it is expected that they will occur fairly often in the southern portions of the state. Their rapid geographical spread, in particular over the last year has caused severe shortages of mink and coyote pelt in most parts of the area.

Black widows can be found in nearly all forested and mountainous habitat, except for the western slopes of the Big Dipper. They are also found in the foothills, in high elevations and, occasionally, in very dense forests.

How do black widows look?
Maine and West Virginia are known for their black widow mink, which is a well- recognised and widely- wanted fur color. Black widows are similar in appearance to other mink except that the body is mostly black.

The tail is white and may be long and/or stiff. They are small for their size, and may weigh only a few pounds. Females are larger than males with heavier heads and tails than males. Juveniles are similar in appearance, but generally smaller.

Black widows have long, stiff tails and are not very graceful, and they carry their tails like a pack of dogs. When not eating or resting, the black widow will stand upright for several minutes with their tails hanging high and ready to attack anyone on sight.

Black widow mink in Maine For many years, West Virginia was the most common location for black widows in Maine, though black widow is now found in virtually all habitats in the state. There are some exceptions— the northeastern parts of the state still have large populations of gray mink and coyotes, which are very dangerous to people or livestock.

As of 2007, the black widow was reported in the upper reaches of the Appalachian Mountains from New York to Virginia and from Maine to the Canadian borders, with a few sightings in the eastern half of that State.

In addition to Maine, there are reports of sightings in Washington and Nevada. There may be populations throughout most of the eastern United States, but Maine will be most important. What should I do if I spot a black widow mink?
Always remove mink pelt to prevent capture and introduction by domestic animals.

Black widows usually are solitary and will not form packs. When found, they are easy to recognize because they have black, thick tails and their eyes are large and sunken in. They can have up to eight dark spots on the breast that resemble spots on the skin of a dog or cat.

There may be one or two spots on the neck, although usually those are the only spots, and no markings on the head. The dark stripes on the back of the neck appear as a straight line. If black widows are found in a forest in full sun, they may have a dark tail and/or no tail at all.

Because black widows are solitary and do not form packs, you will need to keep all of the above in mind when you see a black widow. Although the female is larger than the male, the two differ greatly in size and it is very difficult to distinguish males from females in this age group.

Black widow in Maine How to protect yourself: The best way to find out if you need to keep your eye on a black widow mink is to know what you are looking for. Many black widows will stand in forests during the day, when no one wants them around.

On the ground, they are often found hanging out around leaf litter and logs. If you see this, move quickly away from where you saw the black widow and look for an exit. Black widows will sometimes wander in your garden, so the best place to watch a black widow is while it is at work.

If you see a black widow in a forest with a view, keep your eye on them from a distance or watch from a sheltered spot. A Black Widow mink in Maine As mentioned before, females can grow to be as large as 20 inches long with a tail that can reach 2 feet in length.

Although they are not very graceful, black widow are very stealthy. A black widow mink will not leave tracks; they will just run off if caught. If you are out all night looking for them,