Shame.

I once found this pretty girl frozen to a bucket during one of Mpumalanga’s miserable winters. Oh my goodness, I truly hate being cold. It turns out Miss Bucket Spider just needed some thawing in the sun and she was fine a few hours later. These are some seriously resilient animals. When baboon spiders aren’t frozen, they can live for more than a decade.

Baboon spiders look scary, but they’re harmless and rather charming. I’ve had tons of peaceful encounters with them over the years. And I love them wildly.

Hoofnote: Spiders on the brain tonight because I spent my whole day working on Dung Beetle Soap Opera. And there are so many spiders in it. Love.