Tens of thousands of tarantulas are emerging from their burrows across the southwestern United States as the annual mating season begins. The phenomenon, which typically runs from September to November, has already been reported in Texas, with other states including California, Colorado, and Arizona expected to see an influx of the large arachnids over the coming weeks.
According to experts, the spiders are driven above ground by rising temperatures and moisture levels in search of a mate. Dr Chris Hamilton, associate professor at the University of Idaho, said the event can be surprising even for long-term residents who have never seen a tarantula before. “They’re pretty secretive,” he noted.
Males are the primary wanderers, travelling up to a mile to reach a female’s burrow. Females, described by the National Park Service as “basically homebodies”, may live up to 25 years, while males typically survive only a decade. Many males fall victim to predators such as snakes, owls, and foxes, or are killed by vehicles.
In Colorado, tarantula sightings have become a tourist attraction. La Junta municipality encourages people to observe them an hour before dusk in the Comanche National Grassland between mid-September and October. Lyn Neve of the National Forest Service said that last year staff counted as many as 50 tarantulas crossing roads in an hour and a half.
Despite their intimidating appearance, the spiders are not considered dangerous. Their bite is comparable to a bee sting, though allergic reactions may occur. Wizzie Brown, an entomology specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, advised against handling them. “Look at them and appreciate them because they are beneficial,” she said. “But people shouldn’t handle tarantulas in the wild.”
