Like something from a horror movie, millions of tarantulas are about to overwhelm the Southwest and western United States. If you’re living in California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, or Texas, prepare for the large hairy spiders to be coming to a pant leg near you.
It’s horny season for tarantulas in the US so the boys will be on the prowl looking for some spider tail. They will be climbing from their burrows, crawling around, on the hunt. This facinating marvel of nature will cover various areas with the tarantulas.
During the months of September, October, November they emerge, and make their way aboveground. “They generally wait for the first fall seasonal rain – they really respond to the late summer warmth and the increase in moisture,” McCamish, a senior environmental scientist told USA Today.
If you’re keen to catch yourself a tarantula, it’ll be best to wait until the sun goes down. The fuzzy little creeps are mostly nocturnal, and use the cover of darkness to sneak into your boots and under your sofa.
“As with most things that live in the desert in the summer, they’re generally nocturnal,” the spider pro. “So unless you’re out in the middle of the night, which I don’t recommend for safety purposes, you likely won’t see them.”
They’re Timid Little Fellows
On the whole, the tarantulas that will be swarming the US aren’t out to eat you. Mostly, they keep themselves to themselves, and just want to go get laid. “In truth they’re gentle, ecologically valuable animals,” said McCamish. “Mostly they’re interested in escaping from confrontations – especially with something they know could squish them.”
Of course, it probably isn’t a good idea to pick them up. But, if you see them out and about, they’re all good to just observe. Mostly, they’ll just be on their way, and minf their own business. As a little advice, McCamish said “It’s a wild animal. It doesn’t want to be picked up and loved and hugged. In general the species is very docile, but if you were to handle one they could bite you.”
So, if you’re in the Tarantula states, make sure you shake out your clothes, bedding, and boots before putting them on.