La Junta has a festival for tarantulas during migration

(LA JUNTA, Colo.) — Under the Colorado sun, just beneath the cactus-infused grounds in the Vogel Canyons, female tarantulas are burrowed.

“The burrows go pretty deep and they have just like a thin spider web over them that you’re able to see,” Pam Denahy, Director of Tourism with the City of La Junta said.

When fall lands on this part of Southern Colorado, from the ground the spiders will emerge.
“And then the males go up to them and pretty much try to mate with them and then go from there,” Denahy said.

Colorado Brown Tarantulas roam the 400,000 acres of land on the Camanche National Grassland.

“We are the fourth largest grassland in the United States, so it is undisturbed grassland where you can find these tarantulas.”

The City welcomes the eight-legged friends annually with a festival, this year to be held on the last Saturday in September. The Tarantula Trek is an important part of Tourism. “There’s tours, there’s a parade, there’s vendors, an educational pavilion where you can come and learn about the tarantulas.”

As we inch closer to the festival, the city is reminding those who plan to attend to be mindful of private property, plan ahead for safe viewing, and protect the habitat while viewing with care. “Don’t pick up the tarantulas- we like people to view them from afar.”

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