Wolf spiders and other invertebrates are increasingly kept in zoos and educational collections, raising questions about their welfare needs and capacity to suffer.
The welfare needs of captive wolf spiders are poorly understood and rarely prioritized. Evidence suggests invertebrates may have more complex inner lives than previously assumed - they show stress responses, can learn, and have individual personalities. Captive conditions that prevent natural hunting behaviors, lack appropriate hiding structures, or expose spiders to excessive handling and disturbance likely impair welfare. Better understanding of invertebrate sentience should inform how these animals are kept in educational settings.