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Creepy, crawly love: Colorado's annual tarantula 'migration' has begun
The Denver Channel ^ | 7Sept 2021 | Stephanie Butzer

Posted on 09/07/2021 3:19:17 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT

It's that time of year again — Colorado's tarantula "migration" is underway.

This annual phenomenon has gathered an increase in public interest and fascination over the past few years.

The quotes around migration are there for a reason. It's not quite accurate to call their movements a migration, as they're simply just visible more than other times of year and appear to be marching around on a mission. But the phrase caught on.

...male tarantulas in the southeastern part of the state will leave the safety of their burrows to search for females

And it’s only the males that walk around. You don’t see the females at all.

The males don't live long after mating. Death by predator, car or starvation — or rather, lack of interest in eating anything — typically follow. And in some cases, if the female is cranky, she may eat him, said Paula Cushing, a biologist with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Male tarantulas are sexually mature once they reach about 7 years old, and can live for about a decade. Females can live well beyond that — up to 30 years.

(Excerpt) Read more at thedenverchannel.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: muffet; tarantulas
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Little Miss Muffet Sat on a tuffet, Eating her curds and whey; Along came a spider, Who sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away Little Miss Muffet, Sat on a Tuffet, Eating her Bread and Jam, Along came a Spider, While she was Drinking her Cider, And she ran away and her shoes fell off!
1 posted on 09/07/2021 3:19:17 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I saw one down by Trinidad that, with the leg spread, was the size of a dinner plate. I didn’t worry about rattle snakes on the trail after that.


2 posted on 09/07/2021 3:21:11 PM PDT by dynachrome ("I will not be reconstructed, and I do not give a damn.")
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Kinda’ reminds you of what’s going on in our White House (Old Age Home).


3 posted on 09/07/2021 3:22:47 PM PDT by laweeks ( )
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I despise spiders.


4 posted on 09/07/2021 3:24:15 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I’d rather eat food at casa bonita than watch that! haha


5 posted on 09/07/2021 3:27:06 PM PDT by Trillian
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Long as I don’t have to pet them!


6 posted on 09/07/2021 3:28:27 PM PDT by PistolPaknMama
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To: dynachrome
Oh My!


7 posted on 09/07/2021 3:28:44 PM PDT by Bobalu (Those upset about a 6 week abortion ban are also upset about a 9 month abortion ban.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

We take an annual pontoon fishing trip to Southern Colorado every time this year. Three years ago, we spotted our first tarantula on our outside cabin wall. My “mighty hunter alpha male” buddy about had a heart attack when he spotted it, jumping a mile out of his deck chair. I freaked out cuz I’m thinking “oh crap!! What just made this trophy hunter crap his pants??!” He pointed to the big, fuzzy spider with a trembling finger. I was a bit freaked, too, but got to know the little tarantula guy over the next hour. Didn’t touch him, but got face to face, very close. I later learned that they like to jump. Could have easily turned into a scene from HOME ALONE.


8 posted on 09/07/2021 3:44:53 PM PDT by LittleBillyInfidel (This tagline has been formatted to fit the screen. Some content has been edited.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT
"Little Miss"

I always liked the Andrew Dice Clay version -

Little Miss Muffet Sat on a tuffet, Eating her curds and whey;

Along came a spider, Who sat down beside her, and said,

"Yo! What's in the bowl b***h?"

9 posted on 09/07/2021 3:50:17 PM PDT by fruser1
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To: fruser1

Little Boy Blue....


10 posted on 09/07/2021 3:51:02 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator
Little boy blue...

...and his father beat the crap out of him.

11 posted on 09/07/2021 3:53:40 PM PDT by Publius
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Look, he’s crawling up my wall
Black and hairy, very small
Now he’s up above my head
Hanging by a little thread

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

Now he’s dropped on to the floor
Heading for the bedroom door
Maybe he’s as scared as me
Where’s he gone now, I can’t see

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

Creepy, crawly
Creepy, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly

There he is wrapped in a ball
Doesn’t seem to move at all
Perhaps he’s dead, I’ll just make sure
Pick this book up off the floor

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

Creepy, crawly
Creepy, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly

He’s come to a sticky end
Don’t think he will ever mend
Never more will he crawl ‘round
He’s embedded in the ground

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

-The Who


12 posted on 09/07/2021 3:54:03 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: LittleBillyInfidel

“Could have easily turned into a scene from HOME ALONE.”

Greatest scream in movie history.


13 posted on 09/07/2021 3:54:42 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: dfwgator

He needed the money.


14 posted on 09/07/2021 3:55:28 PM PDT by Repeat Offender (While the wicked stand confounded, call me with Thy saints surrounded.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I grew up in Texas. Tarantulas and scorpions were ubiquitous. One of my favorite memories of my great aunt Grace is her going out in her back yard with a piece of firewood and stalking and killing a tarantula. She was about 70 at the time. Another great memory is watching a battle between a wasp and a tarantula. The wasp won. Finally, our son had one for a pet. I was working full time then and we had to assure the cleaning woman that she did not have to clean that part of the house. He also had pet leaches.


15 posted on 09/07/2021 4:09:49 PM PDT by Mercat
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I used to go camping in the Southern California desert a lot and around the end of October we would see a lot of Trantula’s on the move. Now I know the reason.


16 posted on 09/07/2021 4:36:48 PM PDT by Parley Baer (go trump )
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To: george76

Ummm....

Colorado ping.

And, erm.....

YAAAAAGGHHH!!!

*Getting my napalm grenades ready*


17 posted on 09/07/2021 4:38:47 PM PDT by RandallFlagg ("Okay. As long as the paperwork is clean, you boys can do what you like out there." -Fifi)
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To: EEGator

Ha ha ha! True! I remember you and I talking about movie stunts recently... I just saw a special on Netflix about how brutal the takes were for the HOME ALONE stuntmen!!


18 posted on 09/07/2021 4:40:21 PM PDT by LittleBillyInfidel (This tagline has been formatted to fit the screen. Some content has been edited.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

19 posted on 09/07/2021 4:41:37 PM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: LittleBillyInfidel

I believe it. John Hughes flicks were great.

Another Jackass is coming out soon...


20 posted on 09/07/2021 4:42:46 PM PDT by EEGator
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