While I.C.A.R.U.S. spends a great deal of time discussing animals tha most people would consider “cute” and “beautiful” or else wise attractive, we are just as defensive and protective of the less lovable members of the animal and floral kingdoms. Fisher spiders, for example, are not what most people want to see first thing in the morning. But spiders in general are invaluable to the environment and its deepest workings. If we were to eradicate spiders, the earth would suffer irrevocable damage. Not to mention how many other insects we’d find ourselves dealing with.

Thus, when I.C.A.R.U.S. member, Artemis discovered that a fisher spider had made a home for itself in an outdoor structure on her property, she welcomed the not-so-small neighbor.

Here is another, slightly smaller, wolf spider (wolf spiders and fisher spiders are often viewed interchangeably, though the two differ scientifically) that Artemis found while mowing. This one has an egg sack with her.

Even though it meant occasionally opening a door and walking directly beneath aforementioned neighbor. Artemis’s mother was not as welcoming, but the fisher spider was left alone. It gobbled up insects drawn in by the light of a white light heat lamp that was in use, including mosquitoes, which can transmit the Zika virus.

After a week of cohabitation, the fisher spider, this morning, was caught in an amazing and rarely seen (by civilians in daily life, anyway) in the natural world. The shedding of its skin. Like snakes, many spider species shed their skin as they grow. They are incredibly vulnerable during this process, and thus seek out a place of safety. Artemis’s allowance of the spider to share her space provided it just such a “safe zone”.

Check out the video here!

The spider will hang for some time, allowing its new exoskeleton to harden before returning to its position of insect patrol.

Here are some still shots of the shedding.

Remember, in this world of “cute and cuddly” cubs and baby big cats, it’s the considerably less attractive and lovable animals that keep our planet turning, growing and sustaining. So consider giving them a little love by way of just letting them live. Even when it means sharing your space with them. Because every wild animal is important, not just the cute and cuddly ones.