The Most Common Spiders Found in Saskatchewan (And Which Ones to Watch Out For)

If you live in Saskatchewan, it’s impossible not to share your home, garage, shed, or backyard with spiders. 

And that’s truer than you realize. 

Between basements, garden beds, porch lights, siding, lake cabins, and quiet corners of the garage, our province gives spiders plenty of places to thrive.

That said, most spiders in Saskatchewan are harmless (even helpful!), quietly working behind the scenes to control mosquitoes, flies, beetles, and other pests. 

But some are more commonly encountered than others, and a few can deliver painful bites if accidentally provoked.

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In this guide, we’ll break down the spiders you’re most likely to see in Saskatchewan, what they look like, where they hide, and whether you need to be concerned.

If you’re reading from nearby regions, check out our related guides for Manitoba (Winnipeg) and Alberta.

The Most Common Spiders in Saskatchewan

Below are the spiders most commonly found in Saskatchewan, whether in basements, gardens, garages, or around lake properties. 

1. Wolf Spiders 

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Wolf spiders are one of Saskatchewan’s most common backyard and basement visitors. Brown, fast, and excellent hunters, they don’t build webs, instead preferring to chase prey across floors, grass, or leaf litter. They may look intimidating, but they’re harmless and rarely bite unless of course you get in their way.

2. Cellar Spiders / Long-Bodied Cellar Spider 

These thin, spindly-legged spiders love quiet corners in basements and garages. Their tiny, peanut-shaped bodies and long legs make them easy to spot, and they’re completely harmless. When disturbed, they vibrate rapidly in their webs (a funny-looking defence trick), and they even help control other spiders indoors.

3. Grass Spiders / Funnel Weavers 

Super-common across Southern Saskatchewan, grass spiders build sheet-like webs with a funnel retreat where they hide. They’re brown with pale abdominal stripes and incredibly quick. You’ll see them in lawns, shrubs, and window wells, and despite their sudden sprints, they’re harmless (you’re gonna sense a theme here), and prefer to stay outdoors.

4. Common House Spider 

Small, mottled brown, and excellent at catching indoor pests, the common house spider is frequently found in garages, closets, and basements. They’re non-aggressive and you’ll hardly notice them unless a web appears in a corner. These spiders quietly reduce flies and mosquitoes without posing any risk to people.

5. Crab Spiders

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Crab spiders like sitting motionless on flowers, waiting to ambush insects with their long front legs. Their colours range from white to yellow or pink, sometimes matching the flowers they hide in. They rarely enter homes and pose no threat. However, they’re efficient garden hunters doing useful work.

6. Banded Garden Spider

Large but gentle, the banded garden spider builds impressive circular webs in gardens and meadows during late summer. Recognizable by their striped bodies and long, patterned legs, they’re harmless to humans. Look closely and you’ll often spot a zigzag silk pattern running through the web’s center.

7. Furrow Orbweaver

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Common around porches and eaves, furrow orbweavers have rounded abdomens with arrow-like markings and rebuild their webs nightly. They gather around exterior lights where insects cluster and are completely non-aggressive. Though they look bold, these spiders are harmless helpers keeping porch pests in check.

8. Fishing Spiders

Fishing spiders are some of the largest spiders in Saskatchewan, often seen near docks, lake edges, or riverbanks. Despite their size and striped bodies, they’re gentle and non-threatening. Their most impressive skill is running across water. They’ll even dive below it to capture aquatic insects or tiny fish.

9. Zebra Jumping Spider

Small, energetic, and marked with black-and-white stripes, zebra jumping spiders are surprisingly charismatic. They’re often found on fences, siding, or sunny window frames and use excellent eyesight to track movement. Curious rather than fearful, they’re harmless and sometimes watch humans like tiny, stripy cats.

10. Giant House Spider

Often mistaken for hobo spiders, giant house spiders appear indoors in fall when temperatures drop. They’re large, brown, and very fast, yet completely harmless. You’ll notice them in basements, garages, or dusty corners, usually males wandering in search of mates rather than looking for trouble.

11. Marbled Orbweaver

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Nicknamed the “pumpkin spider,” marbled orbweavers have bright orange or marbled abdomens and build striking orb webs near wooded areas or riversides. Gentle and slow-moving, they hide beside their webs and come out to feed at night. Their webs are easiest to spot in late summer.

12. Cat-Faced Orbweaver

One of Saskatchewan’s most recognizable spiders, the cat-faced orbweaver has two distinctive bumps on its abdomen that resemble tiny ears. Harmless and patient web-builders, they’re often found on porch lights, siding, or garden structures. After hatching, the babies “balloon” away on silk threads carried by the wind.

Bonus Spiders You’ll Also See in Saskatchewan

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These aren’t very common, but you might run into them: 

• Longlegged Sac Spider: This pale yellow/tan spider is active at night, and often enters homes in fall. It can deliver a painful bite, but nothing medically serious.
• Ant-Mimic Spider: As the name suggests, this spider moves like an ant, and has a slender body with striking markings. It’s usually found under rocks, leaf litter, and sometimes indoors.
• Bold Jumper: It’s black with a white or orange spot, and has metallic jaws. Very energetic, curious, and harmless little thing. You’ll most likely see them siding and fences in full sun.
• Daddy Longlegs / Harvestmen: These aren’t actually spiders but confused for them. They have one fused body segment with extremely long legs. They’re completely harmless and are often found in groups outdoors

Which Spiders to Especially Watch Out For (And What to Do If You Find One)

Saskatchewan doesn’t have truly dangerous spiders like black widows or brown recluses living here naturally. The very rare cases reported in Canada almost always involve accidental transport (grocery shipments, luggage, and vehicles).

That said, a few Saskatchewan spiders can give painful bites if handled or trapped against the skin, most notably:

• Longlegged sac spiders

• Some funnel weavers (very mild bites)

These bites aren’t medically serious for most people, but they can cause redness, swelling, burning sensations, or localised irritation.

If you get bitten:

• Wash with soap and warm water
• Apply a cold compress
• Watch for signs of infection
• Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen (fever, spreading rash, severe swelling)

If you find a spider you’re worried about:

• Take a clear photo
• Avoid handling it
• Gently trap and release outdoors
• Call a professional if you find multiple spiders indoors or in difficult-to-reach areas (attics, crawlspaces, vents)

Saskatchewan Spiders Are Mostly Friendly Neighbours (But We Can Move Them Out for You)

Spiders play a valuable role in Saskatchewan’s ecosystem and your home. The problem arises when you have an infestation and they start popping up every now and then. 

If spiders are showing up inside more than you’d like, or if you’re dealing with a recurring issue in your yard, garage, or shed, our spider control experts can help make sure they don’t get out of control.

We also provide season-long pest protection in the form of pest control plans that keeps your yard and home safe from all manner of pests.