United States: The tarantula "invasion" that is also a tourist attraction

Nature tourists and wildlife enthusiasts are increasingly flocking to the world. Thousands of people travel constantly across the globe in search of wildlife, from whales, orcas, and penguins to kangaroos, bears, elephants, and lions... and even tarantulas .

The arid areas of the western and southwestern United States , especially in states such as Oklahoma, Colorado, California , Kansas, New Mexico and Texas , will begin to experience in about two or three weeks a unique phenomenon, which while fascinating to many, can be eerie or frightening to many others.

“ Tarantula crossing ” is the name given to this particular migratory spectacle that attracts thousands of tourists , and which is none other than the mating season of these arachnids, when tens of thousands of males leave their burrows in search of females , a phenomenon that occurs every year in the autumn of the Northern Hemisphere, when it is very common to encounter these arthropods in streets and houses, or crossing roads in remote places.

“If you're lucky, you might see hordes of these animals crossing the roads at certain times of the year,” Dan McCamish, senior environmental scientist for California State Parks, told USA Today.

And while these spiders may make many people's hair stand on end, their request is to " leave them alone ." "It's a wild animal; it doesn't want you to pick it up, love it, or cuddle it (…) In general, the species is very docile, but if you handle it, it might bite you," he explained.

And he added that "they are gentle and ecologically valuable animals (...) They are fundamentally interested in avoiding confrontations, especially with something they know could crush them."

For its part, the Oklahoma State University Extension Program emphasizes that these arachnids are not dangerous to humans , and are more likely to flee from an encounter than bite a person; this may be a last resort when they feel threatened.

They can also defend themselves with the stinging hairs on their abdomen . When stressed, they rub their hind legs together to release the hairs, and when they come into contact with the skin, they cause an annoying, but not serious, itching.

Tarantulas generally live in dry, arid or semi-arid climates, which in the United States are predominant in western and southwestern states such as Arizona, California, Texas , New Mexico, Nevada, Utah , Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

Although there are 29 described species of tarantulas nationwide, they can also be found in other locations with different climates, such as southern Florida, where the Mexican red-rumped tarantula lives, and Missouri, home to the Texas brown tarantula, which is one of the most common along with the desert blonde tarantula. In Arizona, there is even one that stands out for its fiery red abdomen .

Tarantulas remain in their underground burrows for most of the year. In winter, they usually enter a kind of hibernation within their burrows, so they are not seen. In spring, they begin to hunt again, but do not stray far from their shelters. In summer, they emerge at night , so it is not common to see them during the day.

But with the end of summer and the arrival of autumn, especially between the end of August and November , they begin to come out more and usually stay out all night and until dawn , which is when they can be seen.

Males go out to prowl in search of females , who, to facilitate the encounter, usually remain still in their burrow or near it, releasing liquid substances called pheromones to attract the male.

So, anyone looking to witness this unique phenomenon of tarantulas "invading" homes, streets, and roads should be prepared to roam the western and southwestern United States between late August and late October .

McCamish explained that tarantulas play an important role in nature, contributing to ecological balance by controlling insect populations : they are slow and patient ambush predators that regulate biodiversity.

Furthermore, their burrows improve soil aeration and water filtration, especially in the desert during the rainy season. And when they abandon them, these same burrows become refuges for other animals, such as lizards, insects, and other small mammals.

"Furthermore, they are an excellent ecological indicator that helps biologists quickly assess the health of an ecosystem," he noted.