Maine has spiders that can hiss and jump

This story was originally published in September 2021.

Not every spider sits in the middle of its web or drops down from above on a string of silk. In Maine, there are spiders that also jump and spiders that make hissing-like sounds.

While neither is poisonous, coming across either can be a bit startling.

Fall is a time of year when you are likely to see a lot of spiders. Not only is it the mating season, but they may also be coming into your house looking for a warm place — and food — to spend the coming winter.

Among the spiders commonly found in Maine is the wolf spider, a rather athletic spider that is a ground dweller, according to Jim Dill, pest management specialist with University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Instead of catching flies in a web, the wolf spider hunts and run