Charlotte’s Web did a lot for giving humanity more compassion towards our arachnid companions, but let’s face it—many, if not most people would still shy away from a spider if it was spotted in their own home. Maybe the better among us would do the whole catch and release bit, but a rare few would go so far as to actually befriend them.
But Allison Bracken is one of those rare few. In a video shared by The Dodo, Bracken— who used to be afraid of spiders, no less—recalled how a bold jumping spider named Sprout became an eighth-legged member of the family.
Sprout ventured into Bracken’s home (a refurbished school bus) one day, and over the course of several months, their relationship grew. Her routine normally consists of watching Bracken mist the plants in the morning, hunting for bugs, then climbing up onto the ceiling and disappearing for the rest of the day, always to be found the following day in the garden.
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To make Sprout feel even more at home, Bracken and her husband created a tiny, spider-sized home from Sprout to stay warm in the winter, including miniature replicas of the books that she loves cozying up to to sleep.
However, there was a scary period where Sprout went missing for weeks. This was especially worrying since the Bracken family had grown so attached. But thankfully Little Miss Disappearing Spider did, in fact, come back to enjoy her tiny nook.
This disappearing act was likely linked to molting, which occurs between six and nine times throughout a jumping spider’s lifespan. Shedding is gradual and usually occurs in three main stages: pre-shedding, the molting itself, and post-shedding. Even after the old exoskeleton is discarded, it takes about a week for the new skin to become a hard armor once again. So it makes sense that Sprout would want to be extra isolated while so vulnerable. Still, she knew a safe home was waiting for her.
“I actually cried when I saw her,” Bracken told the Dodo. “I never thought we’d grow so attached to such a tiny creature. She’s brought us so much joy and has truly helped us to understand and appreciate spiders.”
While jumping spiders aren’t the most traditional choice of pet, they are fairly predisposed for it, given their high intelligence (they even enter REM dream-like states when they sleep!) and love for interaction. Plus, jumping spiders can bite, but their bites are generally mild and not considered dangerous to humans, and usually only bite when they feel threatened or in danger of being squashed. Which, I mean, same.
They do not need exercise, however, as well as adequate space with plenty of nooks and crannies to nestle themselves in, though a handmade miniature bookshelf like the one Bracken made isn’t necessary.
This story is not only a testament to just how loveable spiders can be, but how the human heart has an astounding ability to form bonds with creatures of all shapes and sizes, especially when we move past our inherent fears. Certainly this isn’t a call to instantly make the next spider you see a pet, but it is an invitation to reexamine what’s possible.
Follow along on more of Bracken and Sprout’s adventures over on Instagram.