19/09/2026
TARANTULA MIGRATION - SEPTEMBER IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN TYPICALLY RECLUSIVE LARGE, HAIRY SPIDERS MAY BE SEEN MIGRATING THROUGHOUT PUEBLO AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO - Story by Jenny Paulson - While tarantulas are plentiful in the Pueblo area and throughout Southeastern Colorado, you may not notice them until mating season, which happens in September of each year, when males start wandering around looking for a mate.
But fear not, tarantulas, which prefer hot, dry climates like ours, aren't typically dangerous at all.
Mostly reclusive by nature, male tarantulas, emerge in September from hiding out in burrows to search for eight-legged female mating partners. Males create a ball of webbing upon which they deposit a small amount of s***m. They then carry this ball in their pedipalps as they go wandering for a female. Females typically stay in burrows, awaiting males. Although they might find their mate, it's not long after that the males die off, leaving the females to continue the species.
The males travel above ground in search of a female in her den. Depending on where you are along the migration path, you may see anywhere from only a few to hundreds or even several thousand over the course of their journey.
We only see a few where we live in the Pueblo area, so it's always a special treat to spot one as it passes through. It’s best to admire these handsome boys from a distance to avoid disturbing them.
Although it's rare, tarantulas can also leave a painful bite, and some species have irritating hairs. In general, tarantulas should only be observed, not picked up and handled. But if you see one, don't fear, experts say that It is a myth that tarantulas are deadly to humans.
Although these spiders, which come in many different types, are typically timid. But rarely, they can act aggressively and may bite or threaten someone, even the notoriously bad-tempered Cobalt Blue Tarantula is not even usually deadly to people.
If a tarantula bites you, you may have pain at the site of the bite similar to a bee sting. You don't need to go to a hospital and you can treat the sting yourself. Wash bites well with soap and water and use cold compresses such as ice packs over the wound. If you are in pain, use over-the-counter pain relievers (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen). Hairs stuck in the skin can be removed using a sticky tape such as duct tape.
If you want to go on a road trip, La Junta, east of Pueblo has an annual tourist attracting season, in which people can typically find some to view and photograph. You can learn more at this website https://visitlajunta.net/about/tarantula-migration/
Large spider photo by Leslie Uhernik Samberson, near the Lake Shore Marina . Smaller spider by Odyssey Burdick, a Pueblo resident who says she’s seen many out this year. Third photo by Jenn White of We are Family.
Jenny Paulson is the editor of Pueblo Independent News, now featured on our page dedicated to exploring not just local news, but the lifestyle and lore of the Pueblo region. Full newspaper website coming soon.
