Ariel Jackson bought a package of grapes for a barbecue party at her sister's house. When she opened the perforated container to wash the grapes she noticed something horrifying: a black widow spider was crawling inside the package.
"She was screaming about a huge spider, and everyone was like, 'Calm down, it's probably nothing,'" said boyfriend Mar Frank. "But we took a closer look and lo-and-behold, it's a black widow. It had the red hourglass-shaped spot on its belly."
Shocking as it sounds, this isn't the first time a customer has found a black widow in a package of grapes; Alexis Gentile had the same issue.
Ariel tried to call the local animal shelter and fire department to see how to dispose of it, but when she got no response, she called 911.
With their 1-year-old nephew in the house, the pair was forced to spray it with insect spray. It eventually passed away.
"It was definitely frightening," Frank said. "My girlfriend is still definitely shaken up. The smallest little things freak her out now. I mean, it's not every day you see a black widow spider."
According to the Center for Disease Control, black widow spiders contain a, "neurotoxin that produces pain at the bite area and then spreads to the chest, abdomen, or the entire body." The bites can sometimes be deadly.
When they contacted the store they were told to bring the package in with the spider to receive a refund.
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