Barking Spiders - [Critter|Slang]

Barking Spiders - [Fearsome Critter | Slang] - aka "Rocky Mountain Barking Spiders" 

• About this critter: A noxious species of burrowing mountain spider which thrives in the Rocky Mountain Range: Especially towards the tip of the Mountains in Alberta, but their echos have also been heard resounding as far south towards the bottom range towards Colorado. Though they're mainly picked up or heard during extrusions & hikes they are also occasionally found in homes: If your grandparent or uncle was big into hiking, they might've on occasion, blamed one for a tooting sound or a foul odour that comes from seemingly nowhere. 

• History: Simply put, its a euphemism or a 'scapegoat' for flatulence. (something to blame when the dog isn't around.) – In particular, 'Rocky Mountain Barking Spiders' where used as a patsy by veteran hikers & backpackers for "High Altitude Flatus Expulsion" whilst hiking at ranges over 11,000ft - I'll keep this one a bit short and just let the "Journal of western medicine " [1981] – do the heavy lifting for this explanation: 

[Journal of western medicine explains "H.A.F.E" - Source.] 🫢

These supposed 'barking spiders' are not to be confused with the very real Australian 'whistling spiders' or Gremlins of a similar altitude which might similarly cause "The Bumps." - One regional variant to this critter might also be found in "Whooping Spiders" (Tumultuantem) however those supposedly deal with 'whooping cough & acne' before flatulence.. [in the earliest folklore, spiders are also more often used as the cure for such ailments.]

[an example of 'whooping spiders' used as a cure, found in a 1911 newspaper.] 

...Anyway i made it cute so that you can give it to your grandma and hopefully make her giggle without scaring 'er.

Art by @SamKalensky part of my fearsome critters collection of stickers! Check my shop & support my work for many more!