Having an interest in both photography and insects-spiders, I enjoy the chance to combine both. This White-tail suprised me by "appearing" in my darkroom after turning on the light. After cooling and setting, he (and it is a he) was photographed and released. I suspect that he still resides somewhere in my darkroom. White-tails can give a nasty bite that can become infected and ulcerous, but not too dangerous.
I have heard about these spiders and I can't believe you returned him to the darkroom. Outside dead or alive. we have recluse spiders that do the same and I can tell you after seeing a bite from them, Life would be short for him.