Arachnophobia is the irrational fear of spiders and other arachnids. This phobia is incredibly common for many people, with spiders causing them fear, panic and anxiety, to scream, cry or maybe even run away.

However, spiders are good for pest control, some see them as a symbol of good luck and if you do happen to be bit by one, the bite is usually no worse than a bee sting or a mosquito bite.

Regardless of where you stand on spiders, Bob Culler, park ranger at Bays Mountain Park, wants to offer folks some advice on living with spiders, the most common ones found in our region and some tips on how to avoid being bitten by these eight-legged critters.

East Tennessee is home to a great number of spider species, including garden spiders, riding spiders, wolf spiders, orb weavers and jumping spiders. Two of the most notorious spiders found in our region, and the ones that cause the most consternation, are the brown recluse and black widow spiders.

“Almost all spiders are predators, and all spiders are venomous, it’s just that brown recluses and black widow spiders cause the most symptoms in the most people,” Culler said.

Brown recluse and black widow spiders are most active during the warmer months of the year, though you can still encounter them during the colder months.

Brown recluse spiders are more of an indoor spider and can be found in old barns and sheds and unused spaces in a house, such as closets and storage areas not disturbed often. If you see a cobweb inside your home, chances are it does not belong to a brown recluse.

“They don’t spin much of a web at all,” Culler said.

Black widow spiders tend to be found outdoors, in cool, damp shady areas like old wood piles, inside water meters and under tree stumps. The web of a black widow spider is distinct – it looks like a raggedy and tangled mess of a web, Culler noted.

Black widow spiders have neurotoxic venom, which can cause pain, convulsions, temporary blindness and paralysis of the breathing muscles. The bite from a black widow spider can kill a person, but death is rare, Culler said, adding that a bite from a brown recluse spider is “extremely” rare.

“The symptoms we attribute to brown recluse bites, turns out are probably MRSA infections,” Culler said. “The bite is where it raises a white blister on the skin and the flesh rots away around the bite. That’s also similar symptoms to MRSA infection. We’re not sure how many bites are from the spider’s venom or from an infection.”

If you happen to get bitten by either spider, seek medical attention. Most times, medical personnel will treat the symptoms. With a black widow bite, there is an anti-venom available if necessary.

Culler offers this advice to best avoid spider bites:

• Don’t reach your hand into places you cannot see.
• If you leave a jacket in an outside shed, shake out the sleeves.
• Shake out shoes or boots before putting them on.
• If you see a web in a dark, shaded area, do not stick your fingers into it.
• If a spider is on your skin, don’t crush it. Flick it off with your finger.

Kingsport’s Communications Department is conducting a multi-part series this year on “Living with Nature,” which will highlight outdoor safety and tips on how to protect you and your family from some of the animals found in our region (bears, deer, skunks, raccoons and snakes).

The Main Street Rebuild project is approximately 35% complete with work currently consisting of utility reconstruction. New water line construction in section one is 95% complete with approximately 40% of the lines being active. New sewer lines have been installed and are active in section one, with work continuing on the stormwater system.

The Main Street Rebuild is a multi-year construction project that aims to improve and beautify one of the main gateways into downtown Kingsport. Work began in earnest last November near the Kingsport Area Transit System side of Main Street and will proceed westward toward Clinchfield Street over the next two years.

Weak soil underneath Main Street will be removed and replaced with stone and then the contractor will build a new road on top of the strong, stable base.

The project calls for new utility lines (water, sewer, stormwater) installed along Main Street, telephone and cable lines placed underground, powerlines relocated to the opposite side of the road and the roadway enhanced with landscaping, bulb outs and stamped brick crosswalks.

Last week, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a change order for the project, adding just over $2 million in funding and extending the contract by 158 days. The additional funds will go towards removing contaminated soils not identified during preliminary testing and replacing the concrete on Main Street (from Wexler to Sullivan) with geo-grid, stone and asphalt.

Funding from state and federal sources will cover 80% of the cost of the Main Street Rebuild project.

To stay updated on the project, be sure to like and follow the Main Street Rebuild page on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.kingsporttn.gov/mainstreet to sign up for the newsletter.

A local yoga instructor is partnering with Bays Mountain Park to offer two special yoga classes to the community in the coming weeks.

The first class – Barge Yoga – will be held on September 30 from 10 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. on the Bays Mountain Barge. The class is designed to challenge your core muscles and balance abilities, all while enjoying the beautiful lake at Bays Mountain.

This fun, exercise science-based yoga class features poses that challenge students to build strength and flexibility while also working on coordination skills. The class will further incorporate a rest and restore portion (10 minutes) that includes stretching and breathing exercises.

Designed for all levels and modifications will be offered. The cost is $6 per adult and registration is limited to 8 people. Please bring your own mat and water. Participants will meet by the barge 15 minutes prior to class starting.

The second class – Planetarium Yoga – will be held on October 3 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Bays Mountain Park planetarium.

This truly immersive yoga class will be held in the planetarium theater, while the images shown run from dawn to dusk, simulating a day’s journey while participants do Sun Salutations, Warrior series, and balance poses.

Concentric, eccentric and isometric contractions will be featured so participants can work to optimize both their strength and balance. Finally, the class concludes with a twilight to starry night sky for the restorative portion of the yoga class.

The cost is $12 per person and class size is limited to 10 people. Wear exercise clothing and bring your own mat and water with a sealable lid.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/3Ly15wy. You can also register by clicking on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on “CivicRec,” then search for “yoga” in the search bar.

Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium regrets to announce the death of two of its white-tailed deer, Odi and Gloria.

Both deer were found deceased by park staff in their enclosure early Sunday morning. It appears wild coyotes breached the habitat by digging underneath the fence and killing both deer sometime during the night after the park closed.

The staff at Bays Mountain is committed to the safety of its animals and each of our habitats are fortified to prevent wild animals from entering. However, fences are not always impenetrable, and the park is a nature preserve with an abundance of wild animals.

Many of these wild animals are predators and deer are a common prey species. While we are deeply saddened by the loss, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the coyotes are living out their natural behavior. 

“It is always a sad day when we lose one of our animals,” said Chief Ranger Tyler Wicks. “While rare, it is not unheard of for wild animals to strike within captive animal enclosures. Our staff here takes every precaution necessary to prevent that, but you cannot tame nature.”

Measures are included in the current Bays Mountain Park improvement plan to better secure the animal habitats, including adding three feet of concrete underneath the fencing of the deer habitat to prevent animals from digging into or out of the enclosure.

ABOUT ODI & GLORIA

Gloria was born in 2008 in captivity at Bays Mountain Park to our former doe, Pumpkin. Gloria was always shy and preferred to spend her time relaxing in the shade, grooming her fellow deer.

Odi was born in the wild but orphaned at a very young age in 2012. He was raised by park staff in the Nature Center until he was big enough to join the other deer in the outdoor habitat. Odi was popular with guests, especially during the rut when his antlers were in. He always enjoyed interacting with his caretakers and the public. He was well known for moving rocks and logs around the habitat with his antlers.

“It was a very fulfilling experience to raise Odi from a young fawn,” said Animal Curator Krystal Haney. “He came to us at about three weeks old and we bottle fed him in my office. He could be ornery at times, but I know he always appreciated the life we were able to give him. Odi will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Both Odi and Gloria lived longer than the average deer’s life span in the wild. They were both good ambassadors for their species and educated countless visitors about the importance of ungulates in the environment.

Kingsport Parks and Recreation is accepting registrations for its Beginner Archery Classes. If you’re interested in learning a unique and exciting sport, then this beginner’s class will certainly hit the mark.

Classes will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday from September 27 through October 25 in the Lynn View Community Center auditorium (257 Walker Street). The classes are for anyone ages 7 and up and the cost is $35 for city residents and $40 for non-city residents.

Participants will use compound bows during the classes and all equipment will be provided.

To register, visit bit.ly/3QN08E9. You can also click on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on the “CivicRec” link, then search for “archery” in the search bar.

For information about other classes, programs and activities offered by the Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.