Tarantulas look for love in Nevada with mating season underway

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — If you’re hiking on Nevada trails right now you may run into some fuzzy critters. The end of summer marks the beginning of tarantula mating season.

Fur, fangs, and flirting. Now is the time when male tarantulas go out in the world to find love, which comes in the form of female tarantulas who hang out in burrows.

The best thing to do if you see one is to leave it alone. Nevada’s State Entomologist Jeff Knight says they can be a bit defensive.

“They’ll rear up on their hind legs and look real tough or if they get really upset, they actually use the hairs on their abdomen as a defensive mechanism,” Knight said.

Knight says an angry tarantula can kick off a cloud of hairs that causes a stinging irritation or rash. Nothing life-threatening.

If you’re not a fan of arachnids, you shouldn’t see that many in Southern Nevada. Spring Mountain Ranch Park Interpreter Kate Bloomfield says they don’t pop up that much right now.

“About this time of year, I’ll get one or two,” Bloomfield said.

In central Nevada towns like Gabbs, you’re able to see groups of tarantulas outside. Around the Las Vegas valley, you may see an occasional one cross your path, just make sure to keep a good distance.

“The rule of thumb is if the wild animal – which they are, cannot be covered up with your thumb when you’re looking at it, then you’re way too close,” Bloomfield said.

Tarantula mating season in Nevada ends in October. Females lay up to 350 eggs which can take up to 3 months to hatch.

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