Colorado is home to an abundance of wildlife such as elk, bears, mountain lions, deer, and even tarantulas. Yes, that’s right, tarantulas. Begging the question, where are the tarantulas in Colorado?
Found in southeastern Colorado, throughout the Comanche National Grassland, tarantulas burrow and live year-round. In autumn, hundreds of male tarantulas emerge from their homes, in what looks like a migration but is actually a mating move.
The annual Tarantula Trek begins in September and runs through the entire month of October, as hundreds of these furry, eight-legged specimens scurry across Southeastern Colorado. The mating process begins when male tarantulas reach maturity at the age of 8 to 10 years of age. Prior to this, the males had not left the grasslands and only now are out and about to find a mate.
During mating season you are most likely to see one tarantula at a time but is possible to see a group of males looking for females. While there are several species of tarantulas, the Oklahoma Brown Tarantula is the one you are most likely to see in this part of Colorado.
Tarantulas can grow up to two inches in length with a leg span of up to five inches. They can travel as far as twenty miles and males who have reached sexual maturity will travel up to a mile to find a mate. Once he finds one, a courtship dance is performed. Certain body language cues and rituals are used for mating. One of these is “drumming” or “tapping,” which a tarantula may use to indicate interest in a potential spouse.
Where to see tarantulas in Colorado?
Spanning 443,000-plus acres of the Comanche National Grassland, the male tarantulas roam far and wide looking for their mate. While the land is vast, there are certain areas accessible to visitors for easy viewing. Popular places include Vogel Canyon (15 miles from La Junta), Sierra Vista & Timpas Picnic Area (about 20 miles from La Junta along HWY 350) and Delhi (36 miles from La Junta on HWY 350).
A short drive from La Junta, Vogel Canyon is the most popular destination for viewing the tarantulas because of its accessibility. Set out on one of the four hiking trails that take you to the mesa top or canyon floor. Or simply enjoy lunch at one of the picnic areas and watch as the hairy crawlers make their way across the plains. I even saw some as far south as Carrizo Canyon when out hiking the last week of September.
And no you don’t have to get out of the car to see them. During prime mating season, they are out and about crawling across the roads. Hop in your car and drive between La Junta to Timpas (on HWY 350) by heading east on County Road N, then south on County Road 25, then east on Forest Service Road 2200, and north on HWY 109 back to La Junta. I saw quite a few on HWY 109 near the Muddy Valley Ranch, within a couple of miles in either direction.
When is the best time for viewing?
The best time is an hour before dusk during mid-September through October and even into early November—depending on the weather. September is peak season, starting mid-month. They don’t like the heat and they don’t like to be out after the first freeze. I also did see a few during the day out hiking, but definitely first thing in the morning and early evening is the best time for viewing.
Mark your calendars for the Tarantula Fest in La Junta to see more up close, educational exhibits and tarantula tours.
Is it safe to view the tarantulas?
The common question everyone asks is; “is it safe?” Yes, it is safe to view them. While they can bite, their venom does not possess enough toxicity to kill humans — it is rare to die from a tarantula bite. Tarantulas are much more terrified of you than you are of them. Despite common misconceptions, they are not aggressive. In fact, they are more likely to flee from humans. And that is exactly what I found to be true as I approached them on the trail to get a photo, they ran away from me.
*all images were taken by me and are subject to copyright.
