Help Save this Spider's Life

One more thing. I left the screw driver there so you can see how small he is. I had a hard time getting a clear photo because he is small. About 1/2". He also seems to be nice because he did not run everywhere when I was taking his photo...maybe he is a little vain! ;-)

From your description, he doesn't match any poisonous Spiders in the US. The two most dangerous ones in North America are the Black Widow, and Brown Recluse. The Brown Recluse has a brown abdomen and a light brown to tan cephalothorax (head) with a brown marking on top that gives them the nickname 'Violin Spider' or 'Fiddleback', and it's venom is a necrotoxin that causes the flesh surrounding the bite site to rot away. Since this Spider has none of those characteristics, I think it's safe to say he's harmless.

YEAH!!! I know that Pete will be happy. (I named the spider Pete) Poor guy has been sitting in a glass for almost two days. I will let him go in the back part of the yard where there are a lot of bugs. Thank you Chris. My gut feeling was that he was ok, but with that red stripe, it threw me off. If you ever do find out what he is, please tell me. I would love to know what kind of spider Pete is! Thanks!

I live in Georgia and caught this same type of spider in my garage. Funny thing is it is missing one leg as well, so if you let it go it looks like he (she) somehow ended up at my house LOL. The red marking threw me off as well, so I had to double check to be sure that black windows have the red on the underside of their bellies. The only other spider I know of that matches this description is a red back, but they live in Australia I believe. Plus the the red backs are "fatter". I would like to know what kind it is in either case.