What a close call!! Brown recluses are on my "Major Scary" list after hearing my dad's story of getting bitten by one as a kid.
OH my gosh! I would have to buy a new house. I got one of those necrotic wounds when I was in seventh grade. Next time you see me, ask to see the scar on my calf.
You were so good to stay calm! I would have flipped out severely.
The last time I was in Texas I was bit by one of those little buggers--I'll save you the gory details but it wasn't pretty, it took a long time to heal, and there was much icky oozing. I'd suggest a few more trips out there to make sure they've all moved on.
Since you're keeping rabbits have you considered keeping chickens? They make delicious eggs, wonderful compost, and they'll happily come over and eat all the brown recluses when you ask them too--and they'll ask for more! Plus they really are rather pleasant company.
Anon
Oh, squick!!
I'm a big fan of spiders (hey, they eat things like mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus), but 20 at once, of a poisonous variety, would have me spooked.
We only have one poisonous spider in my county--the Hobo Spider. It rarely crosses paths with humans, but people routinely kill its harmless cousin (the one that actually EATS Hobo Spiders) just because it's really big and creepy.
But 20? *shudders* You were amazing.
Glad you moved the spider army on to other places.
A friend of mine was bitten in the leg when a brown recluse was delivered in a new chair that they had ordered. Ended up with a hole in the back of his leg deep enough that you could stick a roll of quarters in. Luckily it is healed up well and only a small scar. Lucky for him that a doctor in Northern Wisconsin had done his internship in south so was able recognized the bite.
I have an abiding horror of spiders - they scare the bejesus out of me. Last summer I received a mystery bite - I didn't see the critter that did it, my doctor wasn't sure what it was - but I ended up needing shots and major meds to clear it up. It left an indentation and a scar the size of a 50 cent piece. I suspect a brown recluse. We have 'em here as well.
You are a wonderful mother not to have panicked. I swear, honey - my hat always goes off to you. No matter what - you always manage to do the right thing. I'd have been a gibbering mess - shrieking and running as if all the demons of hell were stringing after me! Oh - and I second the chickens thing. We can’t have them here (rats!), but if you can - get a few. They will keep your garden free of creepy-crawlies and are very sweet and affectionate creatures.
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