Is this normal?

ck_1 · Post by **ck_1** » Nov 04 2002 7:31 pm

Two weeks ago we hiked out Second Water to Garden Valley and saw a tarantula (Pat's first).

Yesterday we hiked Dutchman/Boulder Canyon/Second Water and saw 4 tarantulas. Pat's sister (new to AZ) asked if it was normal to see that many on the same hike. I said it sure wasn't normal for me, but I haven't explored the Sups as much as other areas...so I thought I'd ask the experts here at HAZ....do you usually see a lot of tarantulas this time of year?

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Nov 04 2002 7:58 pm

Their mating season is late summer/early fall. The ones you normally see are the males, searching for a mate. I've seen them as late as mid-October in the lower Sierra Ancha, above Roosevelt Lake. We also spotted one last October crawling along the cliff wall near the Mayhew Lodge ruins at West Fork. So, it's probably not very unusual to see them now, it's been a warm fall so far.

Nighthiker · Post by **Nighthiker** » Nov 05 2002 5:49 am

They are more active in the monsoon season though I seen them this time of year but not as many as during the monsoon season. While doing the Garden Valley Loop hike on Sunday I observed one at the windmill well site at First Water Wash.

Wiz · Post by **Wiz** » Nov 05 2002 6:25 am

I don't think it's very usual to see many at any time, and you're lucky to have seen yours. I get them periodically at my home. Once on an early-morning hike in the Supes I saw a whole school (herd? gaggle? flock?) of them crossing the trail - too cool!
One time only (also in the Supes, about two years ago) I saw a baby tarantula! (At least it looked like one, a tiny little tarantula). Anyone else seen one?

Greg Jackson · Post by **Greg Jackson** » Nov 05 2002 5:08 pm

Two weeks ago while hiking Flatiron I saw one on the way up past Siphon Draw and one on the way down below the draw. My first sightings ever...

landsinaz · Post by **landsinaz** » Nov 05 2002 6:23 pm

We often see them on the dirt roads by Four Peaks this time of year. As far as the small sized ones go, we've seen them in late Spring at Grand Canyon. We assumed they were a different species, but we are in no way spider experts.

tracker · Post by **tracker** » Nov 05 2002 8:21 pm

My wife and I had just left the First Water TH and saw a huge tarantula cross the trail very slowly. I got a really good picture of it which I'll post soon.

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Nov 05 2002 9:21 pm

well there has been 4 or 5 mentioned in the triplogs over the past two weeks

I saw one at Haunted Canyon on Oct 31st two years ago so that's right in speed with the recent postings

lattys · Post by **lattys** » Nov 05 2002 9:26 pm

We hiked on Mt. Wrightson about 3 weeks ago and saw our 1st tarantula, one that I thought was kind of small. Growing up in MO, I have seen some pretty good size ones! 2 weeks ago, we saw one past the petroglyphs in Hieroglyphics Canyon. I'm sure they're out there, the cooler weather is just bringing them out earlier in the day.

Wiz · Post by **Wiz** » Nov 06 2002 5:53 am

landsinaz wrote:As far as the small sized ones go, we've seen them in late Spring at Grand Canyon. We assumed they were a different species, but we are in no way spider experts.

Good point. I just figured it was a baby, but maybe not.

Pellegrino · Post by **Pellegrino** » Nov 06 2002 7:55 am

Thanks guys, now I know how to SPELL T-a-r-a-n-t-u-l-a, hehehe. If you saw my triplog for Boulder Canyon, you'll see I didn't take the time to see if I was spelling it right, but we saw one out there. I really enjoyed checking this one out. I am totally afraid of spiders but somehow these big hairy things don't freak me out. I've seen a couple others up north over the years, one a baby at the Oak Ck Cyn overlook. This guy said "oh, let me see it before you kill it" and I was like "don't worry - I'm not gonna kill it."

We heard that they jump up and grab birds. Now I've never seen one move any faster than a turtle so I totally doubt this story.

My Dad saw a huge migration of tarantula's in the Mohave Desert in the 70's. He said he probably ran over hundreds of them. Of course, he's known to tell tall tales.

Fritzski · Post by **Fritzski** » Nov 06 2002 9:11 am

This time of year you may also notice extremely large black wasps with orange wings flying around. This is no coincidence in that they are "Tarantula Hawk" wasps and are out hunting tarantulas. It is a battle they win invaribly every time and when they paralyze the tarantula, they then haul it off to be buried in the nest with the wasp eggs. When the eggs hatch, the larvae then feed on the still living spider. :yuk:

An article in the Az Republic several years back listed the sting from a Tarantula Hawk as one of the 10 worst insect stings in the world. Fortunately although sometimes inquisitive, they are totally nonaggressive and I personally have never heard of anyone ever being stung.

tracker · Post by **tracker** » Nov 06 2002 9:18 am

Speaking of those Wasps. We saw a couple of them at Second Water Spring. They were huge, but totally non-agressive against us. My wife was "creeped" out though.

Daryl · Post by **Daryl** » Nov 06 2002 11:37 am

Seen the wasp things on the Wind Cave hike yesterday too.

There's a colony of bees that are making wind cave their home right now. "Bee" careful if you go up there.

MaryPhyl · Post by **MaryPhyl** » Nov 06 2002 12:26 pm

My husband saw a migration of tarantulas many years ago on the road between Grand Canyon and Cameron--he too said he ran over dozens of them.

In an issue of Grand Canyon Pioneers awhile back one of the Vercamp boys who grew up at the canyon told of a migration coming past their store and home. He said their mother went in the bathroom and locked the door while dad and the boys got rid of them with brooms. Creeped me out.

arizonaheat · Post by **arizonaheat** » Nov 06 2002 4:58 pm

I was on a 4 x 4 trip last year, in late Oct., near Crown King. At that time we literally saw dozens and dozens of tarantulas making their way across the road. None of them were on the large side, but what they lacked in size they made up for in numbers. It was really neat. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me.

Fritzski · Post by **Fritzski** » Nov 06 2002 10:28 pm

Was up rock climbing in Queen Creek a couple weeks ago and we're driving out and there is this hiker looking guy walking along the road and he's got a big rock and is smashing something in the road. We stop to see if he's okay and he points to the big tarantula he has just pulverized with a big, proud smile on his face. Needless to say I had a few choice words for this moron and felt like putting his rock where the sun don't shine!

Wiz · Post by **Wiz** » Nov 07 2002 6:26 am

Fritzski,
It's absolutely incredible that the mindset "wow, look at that unusual creature! Better kill it!" is still so prevalent. Rattlesnakes also suffer as a result of this.
It's a weird, deeply-rooted psychological thing, when you think about it. Look at some of our classic survival literature. I'm thinking specifically of "The Swiss Family Robinson", but there are probably tons of other examples.
It's sickening. Why do people in this day and age get this urge to kill creatures that are incapable of defending themselves, just because they can? That guy probably pulls the wings off flies too. The rock in the dark place might have been too good for that cretin. A realignment of food chain positions in the form of a hungry mountain lion is what he needs!
I admire your self-restraint - I might have done something stupid (it certainly wouldn't be the first time)!
Grrr! Now I'm pissed just thinking about it! Thanks a lot!

Fritzski · Post by **Fritzski** » Nov 07 2002 8:23 am

AMEN! Wiz

BoyNhisDog · Post by **BoyNhisDog** » Nov 07 2002 4:04 pm

Fritzski wrote: there is this hiker looking guy walking along the road and he's got a big rock and is smashing something in the road. We stop to see if he's okay and he points to the big tarantula he has just pulverized with a big, proud smile on his face. Needless to say I had a few choice words for this moron and felt like putting his rock where the sun don't shine!

Unfortuately there are far too many morons out there doing things like this. Many of the folks who are bit by rattlesnakes are doing the same pointless thing. I am glad you spoke up. It is not okay to destroy wildlife of any kind just because you can. I know I'm preaching to the choir.