Although you may associate big spiders with Halloween, every fall southern Colorado residents witness an eight-legged migration through their part of the state. Right now, thousands of male tarantulas are on a walkabout. From September through mid October they trek across roads and fields, looking for a mate. So determined, too: they even go without food during their travels!
Did you know:
- Colorado Tarantulas are large brown or black hairy spiders with longer hair on their tummies.
- Despite their great size, Colorado Tarantulas are friendly. They tend to leave people alone unless you scare them, and their bite is a bit like a bee sting.
- Colorado Tarantulas live in a burrow all their lives, except when the males migrate.
- Female Colorado Tarantulas are almost twice as big as the male spiders.
- Colorado Tarantulas rest during the day in their burrows and hunt for beetles, insects, and mice at night.
- Male Colorado Tarantulas live for 10-12 years; female Colorado Tarantulas live at least twice that long.
- Sadly, male Colorado Tarantulas mate just once, and then they die.
