Are There Black Widows in Alaska?
No, black widows are not established in Alaska. The state's cold climate is far too harsh for these spiders to survive outdoors or establish breeding populations. If you find a spider in Alaska and worry it might be a black widow, you can feel completely confident it is not.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
Northern Black Widow · Joseph McPhail CC BY
Western Black Widow · Rebecca Ray CC BY
Western Black Widow · Michael Eisen CC BY
- 1
- species recorded
- 5
- GBIF records
- September
- peak months
Black Widows are rare in Alaska, so you might also want:
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
Only 1 verified observations on iNaturalist of black widow have been logged in Alaska, which fits how rare they are in the state. That low number is itself the most honest answer to whether you are likely to see one here.
No, black widows are not established in Alaska. The state's cold climate is far too harsh for these spiders to survive outdoors or establish breeding populations. If you find a spider in Alaska and worry it might be a black widow, you can feel completely confident it is not.
Are they in Alaska?
Black widows are not established in Alaska and do not live there in the wild. The extreme cold and short growing season make survival impossible for black widows in Alaska. These spiders require warm temperatures year-round and cannot survive the freezing winters that characterize most of Alaska. While black widows are found throughout much of the continental United States, they are absent from Alaska, northern Canada, and other regions with long, severe winters. The southern range of black widows extends into the warmest parts of the continental United States, including California, Arizona, and the southern states, but stops well short of Alaska. You may occasionally hear about a black widow being found indoors in Alaska, but this would be an accidental shipment, not an established population. If you ever encounter any spider in Alaska, you can visit ourAlaska wildlife guidefor information about the harmless species that actually live there.
How dangerous is it?
Since black widows are not present in Alaska, there is no danger from them in this state. This is actually good news and means Alaskans do not need to worry about black widow encounters or bites. The spiders that do live in Alaska are harmless and pose no medical threat to humans. Alaska has many spider species that are beneficial and help control insects. These Alaskan spiders are adapted to the cold climate and have entirely different behavior and appearance from black widows. Residents and visitors to Alaska can enjoy outdoor activities without concern about black widow exposure. While other regions of the United States do have venomous species that require caution, Alaska is naturally protected by its climate. The state's harsh winters eliminate any possibility of black widow establishment. This is one area where climate actually works in favor of human safety. You can read about safe wildlife practices for Alaska through ourAlaska wildlife informationresources.
How to recognize one
Understanding what a black widow looks like is useful for travelers who visit warmer states or for anyone curious about spiders. Black widows are shiny and glossy black, with a distinctive red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. Adult females are typically 10 to 13 millimeters in body length and appear quite round or bulbous. Male black widows are smaller and may have red or white markings along their abdomen. They build irregular, messy webs rather than neat geometric patterns. These webs appear in sheltered locations like corners, eaves, wood piles, and sheds. In Alaska, if you see a large black spider, it will not be a black widow. Alaskan spiders have different characteristics and body shapes. Wolf spiders and other dark spiders in Alaska are hairy and have different markings. If you are interested in learning about the actual spiders of Alaska, ourwildlife guideprovides detailed information about native species in the state.
What to do if you are bitten or stung
If you are bitten by a spider in Alaska, it will not be a black widow. Alaskan spiders do not deliver medically significant bites. Most spider bites in any location cause only minor irritation at the bite site. If you experience an unusual reaction to any spider bite in Alaska, seek medical care to be safe. A doctor can evaluate the bite and provide appropriate care. Treat any spider bite in Alaska the same way you would any minor skin injury. Wash the bite area with soap and water. Keep the area clean and monitor for signs of infection, which are uncommon. This is general information, not medical advice; if you are bitten, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if symptoms are severe. In Alaska specifically, there is no risk of black widow envenomation because the spiders do not live in the state. If you have concerns about any bite from an Alaskan spider, medical professionals can evaluate it quickly. Alaskan spider encounters are extremely rare and typically harmless.
How to prevent encounters
Since black widows are not present in Alaska, prevention of black widow encounters is not necessary. You do not need to worry about black widow safety in Alaska. Standard precautions for general outdoor activity apply in Alaska, such as being aware of your surroundings when hiking and moving slowly through underbrush. Most Alaskan spiders are shy and avoid human contact entirely. If you spend time in the woods or in storage areas, shake out clothing and shoes as a general good practice, but this is not needed for black widow prevention in Alaska. Keep your home clean and organized, which helps with general pest management. Seal cracks and gaps around doors and windows for insulation and to prevent small insects from entering, but again, black widows are not the concern in Alaska. Alaska's natural climate protection means you can enjoy outdoor activities without worry about this particular hazard. For information about other safety concerns specific to Alaska wildlife, consult ourAlaska wildliferesources.
Where in Alaska and when
Black widows do not occur anywhere in Alaska at any time of year. The state's entire geography is unsuitable for black widows, from the southeastern rainforests near Juneau to the interior valleys around Fairbanks to the western Aleutian Islands. Alaska's summer temperatures in even the warmest regions do not remain warm long enough to support black widow survival. The state's average winter temperatures are far below the survival threshold for black widows. Permafrost covers much of interior and northern Alaska, creating an environment completely incompatible with spider populations that require warm, relatively stable conditions. Even the coastal areas of Alaska, while slightly warmer than the interior, do not provide sufficient warmth for black widows to establish breeding populations. If you visit Alaska, you will not encounter black widows anywhere in the state. If you travel to warmer states, you may encounter them in spring through fall, with peak activity during summer. Seasonal awareness is only relevant when traveling outside of Alaska. For information about the actual spiders and wildlife of Alaska, visit ourwildlife guide.
Harmless lookalikes
Alaska has many spider species that are harmless and native to the state. If you see a dark or black spider in Alaska, it is definitely not a black widow. Wolf spiders are common in Alaska and can be dark colored, but they are hairy and have different body shapes than black widows. Jumping spiders occur in Alaska and have large forward-facing eyes and more compact bodies. Fishing spiders live near water in Alaska and are large and dark but lack the distinctive hourglass marking. Cellar spiders and house spiders occur indoors in Alaska and have much longer, thinner legs. Ground spiders and other small harmless species are abundant. All Alaskan spiders are harmless to humans and pose no medical risk. Most spiders you encounter in Alaska are beneficial and eat problematic insects. If you see any spider in Alaska, it will be one of these harmless native species. The distinctive red hourglass marking of black widows is never found on Alaskan spiders. You can feel completely confident about the safety of any spider you encounter in Alaska.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are black widows found in Alaska? A: No. Black widows do not live in Alaska. The state's climate is far too cold for them to survive. You will not encounter a black widow in Alaska under natural conditions. Q: Why are black widows absent from Alaska? A: Black widows require warm temperatures year-round and cannot survive Alaska's long, cold winters. The species is limited to warmer regions of North America. Alaska's harsh climate is a natural barrier to black widow establishment. Q: Should I worry about black widow bites in Alaska? A: No. Since black widows do not live in Alaska, there is no risk of bites from these spiders in the state. You can enjoy Alaska's outdoors without concern about black widow encounters. Q: What spiders should I be aware of in Alaska? A: Alaskan spiders are all harmless. Common species include wolf spiders, jumping spiders, and fishing spiders. All native Alaskan spiders are beneficial and pose no medical risk. Learn more about Alaskan wildlife at ourwildlife information.
Plan your trip
Best time to see black widow in Alaska: September
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your black widow sighting in Alaska
5 verified black widow records have been logged in Alaska, most recently in 2023. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Alaska
- Alagnak Wild River · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Bering Land Bridge National Preserve · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Cape Krusenstern National Monument · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Denali National Park & Preserve · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
Frequently asked questions
Are they in Alaska?+
Black widows are not established in Alaska and do not live there in the wild. The extreme cold and short growing season make survival impossible for black widows in Alaska. These spiders require warm temperatures year-round and cannot survive the freezing winters that characterize most of Alaska. While black widows are found throughout much of the continental United States, they are absent from Alaska, northern Canada, and other regions with long, severe winters. The southern range of black widows extends into the warmest parts of the continental United States, including California, Arizona, and the southern states, but stops well short of Alaska. You may occasionally hear about a black widow being found indoors in Alaska, but this would be an accidental shipment, not an established population. If you ever encounter any spider in Alaska, you can visit ourAlaska wildlife guidefor information about the harmless species that actually live there.
How dangerous is it?+
Since black widows are not present in Alaska, there is no danger from them in this state. This is actually good news and means Alaskans do not need to worry about black widow encounters or bites. The spiders that do live in Alaska are harmless and pose no medical threat to humans. Alaska has many spider species that are beneficial and help control insects. These Alaskan spiders are adapted to the cold climate and have entirely different behavior and appearance from black widows. Residents and visitors to Alaska can enjoy outdoor activities without concern about black widow exposure. While other regions of the United States do have venomous species that require caution, Alaska is naturally protected by its climate. The state's harsh winters eliminate any possibility of black widow establishment. This is one area where climate actually works in favor of human safety. You can read about safe wildlife practices for Alaska through ourAlaska wildlife informationresources.
More wildlife in Alaska