Thousands of tarantulas will begin migrating through Colorado this month
Aug 13, 2024 Updated Aug 13, 2024
from The Denver Gazette
FILE PHOTO: A male tarantula crosses Highway 350 south of La Junta, Colo., Tuesday evening, Sept. 26, 2023, (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
LKY: Ok, this is really creepy. Did you'all know this was happening in Colorado????
Be warned. Thousands of tarantulas will be making their way across Colorado very soon.
No, it’s not the plot from the 1990 film "Arachnophobia," but a perfectly normal, and very real (albeit creepy to some) annual migration that occurs in the state each year.
This event, often informally called a migration, is more accurately described by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials as an annual mating ritual. During this time, male tarantulas traverse the over 443,000 acres of the Comanche National Grassland in search of a mate.
Activity begins in late summer and early fall, but officials say that the peak time to view tarantula activity is mid-September near Comanche National Grassland south of La Junta, Colo., off U.S. Highway 109.
Viewing this phenomenon has become so popular that in recent years, the City of La Junta has embraced it, hosting an annual “Tarantula Fest”. This year’s event will be held on Sept. 27 and 28 in Downtown La Junta. It will include a parade, vendors, an education pavilion, and tarantula tours among other yet-to-be-announced events.
For those who prefer to venture out on their own, the city in partnership with CPW has also published a list of viewing tips as well as a guide to tarantula safety.
One of CPW’s best pieces of advice is to let wildlife be, although photography is permitted.
While tarantulas can bite, their venom is not toxic to humans and is comparable to a bee sting. The hairs on their bodies can also result in the irritation of human skin, which can cause itching.
The animals themselves can be hurt if they fall from a distance, such as in instances where they are handled and dropped by human hands.
According to researchers at Colorado State University, there are many different species of tarantula that can be found in the state, but the most common species are found in Southeastern Colorado.
Three species of tarantulas have been identified by researchers: Aphonopelma coloradanum (Chamberlin), Aphonopelma echinum (Chamberlin), also known as the Colorado chocolate brown, and Aphonopelma hentzi (Girard), commonly called the Oklahoma brown. However, their taxonomy is currently under review, and future revisions may potentially combine these into two or even a single species.
The spiders tend to reside in areas of prairie, as cultivation destroys habitat, according to researchers. After establishing their burrows, the female tarantulas typically remain near them for their entire lives, which can span up to 25 years.
For complete info on how and where to view tarantulas in southeastern Colorado, you can visit the Tarantula Trek website.
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