When I was a kid in Sacramento, we had Black Widows all over the place outside the house and in the garage. Dad says, “Don’t mess with those, they are really venomous.”
“OK. Should we kill them.”
“Nah, they’re harmless.”
“Can we kill them if they get in our way?”
“Sure. Just be careful.”
“Thanks Dad. Remember, I turn six tomorrow.”
It was just as normal to be around black widows as it was for the neighbors dog to take a wizz on your lawn.
We have both black widow and brown recluse in my area. I kill one of the two at least once a month. They seem to appear after rainstorms.