Office holiday closure

Our offices will be closed Thursday, June 19 in observation of Juneteenth. Your preserves remain open!

The Fall Crawl

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close view of a large brown tarantula on the dirt floor

Welcome to spooky season! ‘Tis the season for scary movies, haunted houses, and ghost stories, so we thought it fitting to talk about one of the (seemingly) spookiest critters found at the open space preserves this time of year – tarantulas. September and October is the best time for viewing as they leave their burrows for mating season - just in time for the Halloween season.

So what better time to pull back the curtain and make these creepy-crawlies a bit less creepy?

Check out these tarantulovable fun facts (and brace yourself for some spider pictures):

And scroll to the bottom of the article for a rare video of a tarantula mating ritual at Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve!
close view of a brown hairy tarantula at ground level

1. Tarantulas breathe through slits in their abdomen, not through their mouths.

Okay, this one is a little creepy, but cool!...Right?
A black tarantula walks through a bed of dried grass

2. There are over 850 known tarantula species.

The most common species found in California is the Aphonopelma eutylenum, or the California ebony tarantula.
Above shot of a large black tarantula standing on a dirt path

3. The California ebony tarantula can be found at Rancho Cañada del Oro, Coyote Valley, Sierra Vista, and Máyyan 'Ooyákma - Coyo

Yes, they’re found on Authority preserves, but don’t worry, because...
Large tarantula that blends in with it's rocky and dirt surroundings.

4. They are docile and are not a threat to humans – in fact, some species of tarantula are actually popular as pets.

*Exhales.* But please don't remove them from the wild to be your pet. Doing so can harm local populations.
five young children squatting around a small black tarantula on a dirt path

5. Also, tarantulas only bite when they feel threatened.

Contrary to popular belief, tarantulas would rather run away from a predator than fight. If we respect them, they’ll respect us, so be sure not to pick them up if you see them in the preserves or out in the wild.
close shot of a medium sized brown tarantula in a yellow straw field

6. They run faster when it’s hot because as temperatures rise, they lose some control over their limbs.

Rogue tarantulas...Yet another reason to slow down climate change!
A close and above view of a large brown tarantula surrounded by rocks, twigs, and dirt

7. They have prickly, “urticating” hairs on their abdomen that they can throw at predators to blind them.

Note to self: do not prey on tarantulas.
Large brown tarantula climbing a grey rock on a dirt landscape

8. Their eyes are on top of their bodies, but they hunt things below them.

They sense vibration and moisture with hair on their legs. They catch things by feel, not sight.
Close front view of a large black hairy tarantula on a dirt terrain

9. Their stomach is wrapped in strong muscles that act as pumps to help them digest food.

That’s the kind of flexing we all need.
Two large brown tarantulas with their legs interwined, mating at the entrance of a rocky ground hole

10. Females live years longer than males.

While males live 7-12 years, females can live up to 25-30 years. Okay, queens!
close view of a medium brown tarantula in a straw like field

11. They move by hydraulics, pushing their thin blood into limbs to straighten them.

Terminator, who?

Be sure to check out our most recent virtual tarantula program to learn more about these fascinating creatures and visit our website to learn about the rest of the wildlife that call Santa Clara Valley home.

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