Wolf spiders are hunters rather than web builders and spend much of their time going out in search of their next meal. They feed on other types of spiders as well as insects. They are found primarily outdoors and can be seen around leaf piles, under decks or rocks, in grassy areas, or among wood piles. Some wolf spiders will wait to ambush prey as it passes by, while others will follow and attack it.
Although wolf spiders do not create webs, they do construct places of retreat. They will dig a shallow area under a rock or log, for instance, or they may dig a tunnel or burrow in the ground. They often retreat to these areas during the day and do their hunting at night, though sometimes they are active in the daytime as well.
Occasionally, wolf spiders may be seen indoors, especially when seeking prey. They are usually found at ground level in plants, under furniture, or in garages and basements.
Wolf spiders will mate in the fall, but the male spiders usually don't survive the wintertime. The females will care for the egg sac until the spiderlings hatch in the spring. Interestingly, a female wolf spider will carry the egg sac attached to her spinnerets on the underside of her abdomen. Once the young spiderlings hatch, they will climb up onto her back for several days or a couple of weeks until they disperse.
Wolf spiders are hairy and can grow to be quite large, so they can certainly startle people who happen upon them. In fact, people sometimes mistake wolf spiders for tarantulas. In spite of how frightening they may look, however, wolf spiders are relatively harmless to humans. They are not likely to bite unless provoked and even then, their bite is similar to a bee sting. If a person is sensitive or allergic to these kinds of bites, they may experience more serious reactions, but wolf spider bites are not fatal to humans.