Are There Black Widows in Tennessee?
Yes, black widows live in Tennessee, particularly in the southern regions, Memphis area, and warmer parts of the state. However, bites are uncommon and serious outcomes are rare with proper medical care. By understanding where they hide and taking simple precautions, you can minimize the small risk. Most Tennessee residents never encounter one.
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
- 3
- species recorded
- 423
- GBIF records
- May, August, June
- peak months
Yes, black widows are in Tennessee. Next you'll want:
Verified species, source iNaturalist
3 types of black widows recorded in Tennessee
3 black widow species have a verified observation record in Tennessee, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
1 of the 3 shown is recorded as introduced to Tennessee rather than native.
- No openly licensed photo yet1
- No openly licensed photo yet2
- No openly licensed photo yet3
Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
900 verified observations on iNaturalist of black widow have been recorded in Tennessee, most often in May, August, June.
When black widow are recorded in Tennessee
Yes, black widows live in Tennessee, particularly in the southern regions, Memphis area, and warmer parts of the state. However, bites are uncommon and serious outcomes are rare with proper medical care. By understanding where they hide and taking simple precautions, you can minimize the small risk. Most Tennessee residents never encounter one.
Are They in Tennessee?
Yes, black widows are established in Tennessee, particularly in the southern regions and the Memphis area where warm temperatures provide ideal habitat. Tennessee's warm climate, long summers, and mild winters in many areas allow black widows to survive and breed. The Memphis area in western Tennessee and the southern regions are especially suitable. Black widows can also be found in central Tennessee and the warmer parts of the Cumberland Basin and Nashville area. However, black widows are less common in the far northern regions and the higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains, which are cooler. Black widows are most common in the Coastal Plain and lower elevations where temperatures stay warmer. They prefer dry places and are more abundant around buildings, woodpiles, and storage areas than in heavily forested or wet regions. If you spend time outdoors in Tennessee, particularly in southern and central areas, you should know about black widows. Learn more aboutwildlife in Tennesseeto understand all local spider species. Explorewildlife guides.
How Dangerous Is It?
Black widow bites are medically serious and require professional medical care. The venom affects the nervous system and can cause intense muscle pain, cramping, excessive sweating, and other systemic effects that develop within one to three hours of a bite. The bite site itself may feel like a slight pinprick or may go almost unnoticed initially. However, death from a black widow bite is extremely rare in healthy adults, especially with prompt professional medical treatment. Most people recover completely with proper care. Children, elderly people, and those with certain health conditions may experience more severe reactions and need close medical monitoring. Most bites occur when a spider is accidentally pressed against skin while putting on clothing, reaching into a woodpile, or moving stored items. The spider is not aggressive and does not seek out humans. With proper medical care available throughout Tennessee, serious outcomes are rare. Learn aboutwildlife in Tennesseeand risk management.
How to Recognize One
Knowing how to identify black widows helps you avoid accidental contact. Black widows are small spiders, typically about one half inch in body length, with a distinctly shiny jet black abdomen. The most recognizable feature is a bright red or red-orange hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen, shaped like two triangles touching at their points. Some individuals have a red stripe running down the center of the back. The head and legs are glossy black. Male black widows are much smaller than females and often have red spots or stripes on their backs. These spiders are shy and prefer to hide in warm, dark, undisturbed places. Common hiding spots include woodpiles, under rocks, in tight spaces around building eaves and porch railings, storage sheds, under porch steps, in garages and outbuildings, in wood stacks, and inside stored boxes or folded items left undisturbed. Black widows do not actively seek out humans and bite only when they feel threatened or accidentally pressed.
What to Do If Bitten or Stung
If you are bitten by a black widow in Tennessee, stay calm. Remove any tight rings or jewelry from the affected limb immediately to prevent circulation problems. Keep the bitten area still and avoid moving it more than necessary. Remove any clothing that might restrict blood flow. Do not apply ice or heat to the bite. Do not attempt to treat it with cutting, sucking, or any home remedy. Seek medical attention immediately by going to an emergency room or urgent care facility. Tell medical staff that you may have been bitten by a black widow so they can provide appropriate care. Many Tennessee hospitals have antivenom available or can access it quickly through emergency protocols. 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. Professional medical treatment dramatically improves outcomes. Do not delay seeking help.
How to Prevent Encounters
Simple practical steps reduce the small risk of black widow encounters in Tennessee. Wear closed shoes and long pants when hiking, working in brush, or handling firewood, especially in southern and central regions. Shake out shoes, hats, and clothing before putting them on, especially items stored in closets, garages, basements, or attics. Inspect and remove items from storage areas before using them. Keep woodpiles elevated off the ground and away from buildings. Store wood neatly and do not let materials pile directly against house walls or foundations. Wear work gloves when handling firewood, gardening materials, or stored items. When working in garages, sheds, or other storage spaces, use a flashlight to check dark corners first. Keep shoes, sports equipment, and seasonal items in sealed plastic containers rather than open boxes. Remove leaves and debris from around your home's foundation. Seal gaps around doors, windows, and building pipes. Regular cleaning and organization of storage areas helps prevent black widow hiding places. Learn more aboutwildlife in Tennessee.
Where in Tennessee and When
Black widows in Tennessee are found primarily in the warmer regions, particularly in the southern areas, the Memphis region in western Tennessee, and warmer parts of central Tennessee. They are most common in the Coastal Plain and lower elevation areas. They can also be found in the Cumberland Basin and Nashville area. They are less common in the northern regions and higher elevations like the Great Smoky Mountains region, where temperatures are cooler. Black widows prefer warm, dry places and are attracted to undisturbed spaces around buildings, woodpiles, and storage areas. In Tennessee, black widows are most active during warm months, typically April through October, when they hunt for food, mate, and lay eggs. They are most commonly encountered in late summer and early fall when they are larger and more active. As temperatures drop in late fall, they become less active and hide in protected spots like building voids, basements, or other warm sheltered places. They do not truly hibernate but can survive mild Tennessee winters if protected. To learn more aboutwildlife in Tennessee, explore local guides.
Harmless Lookalikes
In Tennessee, if you find a small dark spider with red or orange markings, it is far more likely to be a harmless species than a black widow. Many harmless Tennessee spiders are often mistaken for black widows. Wolf spiders are common throughout Tennessee in yards, gardens, and homes. They are brown or gray, lack the distinctive hourglass mark, and are completely harmless. Jumping spiders are small spiders with large forward-facing eyes and are entirely safe. Orb weavers create beautiful symmetrical webs in gardens and yards and pose no danger. They are often found in the same warm areas where people encounter them. Some individuals have found harmless spiders in their homes and storage areas and mistaken them for black widows based only on color. If you find a spider and are unsure of its identity, contact a local naturalist, university extension office, or wildlife authority for help. Most spiders in Tennessee are harmless. Learning aboutwildlife in Tennesseehelps you appreciate the harmless spiders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Black Widows deadly? Black widow bites are serious and require medical care, but death is very rare in healthy adults with prompt professional treatment. Most people recover fully. How common are Black Widow bites in Tennessee? Bites are uncommon because people rarely encounter black widows, and the spiders are shy. Tennessee hospitals report relatively few black widow bites each year. What attracts Black Widows to a house? Black widows are attracted to warm, dark, undisturbed spaces like storage sheds, woodpiles, garage corners, basement spaces, and closets. They hide rather than actively enter homes. What should I do if I see one? If you see a shiny black spider with a red hourglass mark in Tennessee, avoid touching it and leave it alone. The spider will not bother you if left undisturbed. If it is in a place where someone might accidentally contact it, like on a porch or near stored items, use a stick to gently move it away or contact a local wildlife professional. For more information, visityour wildlife guide.
Plan your trip
Best time to see black widow in Tennessee: May, August, June
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your black widow sighting in Tennessee
423 verified black widow records have been logged in Tennessee, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Tennessee
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Natchez Trace Parkway · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Obed Wild & Scenic River · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Frequently asked questions
Are They in Tennessee?+
Yes, black widows are established in Tennessee, particularly in the southern regions and the Memphis area where warm temperatures provide ideal habitat. Tennessee's warm climate, long summers, and mild winters in many areas allow black widows to survive and breed. The Memphis area in western Tennessee and the southern regions are especially suitable. Black widows can also be found in central Tennessee and the warmer parts of the Cumberland Basin and Nashville area. However, black widows are less common in the far northern regions and the higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains, which are cooler. Black widows are most common in the Coastal Plain and lower elevations where temperatures stay warmer. They prefer dry places and are more abundant around buildings, woodpiles, and storage areas than in heavily forested or wet regions. If you spend time outdoors in Tennessee, particularly in southern and central areas, you should know about black widows. Learn more aboutwildlife in Tennesseeto understand all local spider species. Explorewildlife guides.
How Dangerous Is It?+
Black widow bites are medically serious and require professional medical care. The venom affects the nervous system and can cause intense muscle pain, cramping, excessive sweating, and other systemic effects that develop within one to three hours of a bite. The bite site itself may feel like a slight pinprick or may go almost unnoticed initially. However, death from a black widow bite is extremely rare in healthy adults, especially with prompt professional medical treatment. Most people recover completely with proper care. Children, elderly people, and those with certain health conditions may experience more severe reactions and need close medical monitoring. Most bites occur when a spider is accidentally pressed against skin while putting on clothing, reaching into a woodpile, or moving stored items. The spider is not aggressive and does not seek out humans. With proper medical care available throughout Tennessee, serious outcomes are rare. Learn aboutwildlife in Tennesseeand risk management.
More wildlife in Tennessee