In the early fall, the boy tarantulas appear and wander the hills looking for love. We really like this time of year and try to drive safely, as they are often spotted crossing our rather sketchy road and we’d rather not smush them. See, unlike the females of just about every tarantula species which rarely leave their burrows during their lifetime (which can be upwards of 30 years), the boys reach maturity at around seven years of age, and in the autumn, leave their dens to look for a ladyfriend or two. Turns out they won’t eat or molt again as they wander the hills and valleys.
Photos don’t really do these boys justice though. To truly appreciate how lovely they are, here’s a short compilation video I tossed together.