La Junta CO - Tarantula Migration
May 3, 2023 11:59:12 #
Ed Chu
Loc: Las Vegas NV
apparently this happens every year, and last year La Junta held a Migration Festival; anyone familiar with this ?
May 3, 2023 12:39:59 #
I drove through the area 20-some years ago. It was strange, there were all these black 'lumps' moving across the road, so I stopped and looked. Spiders kinda freak me out, but strangely, not tarantulas! I think it's because they don't 'scuttle' around... Here are a couple of frames captured from the DV camera footage. Not great, but it *was* kinda neat!
May 3, 2023 12:58:51 #
I found this:
https://www.uncovercolorado.com/events/la-junta-tarantula-migration/
Not my cuppa tea!
lol!
https://www.uncovercolorado.com/events/la-junta-tarantula-migration/
Not my cuppa tea!
lol!May 3, 2023 13:33:59 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Ed Chu wrote:
apparently this happens every year, and last year La Junta held a Migration Festival; anyone familiar with this ?
The males move around to find a mate. Happens every year. And although I haven't gone yet, the word is "yet". It is one of the more interesting wildlife events in Colorado. And these guys are more interested in mating than any "biting". Most could be picked up with no problem. You will just be hindering them from finding a mate (not a nice thing to do!).
May 3, 2023 23:02:01 #
That's kind of funny, our Vet is in La Junta and I've never heard of the Migration Festival
I have however, witnessed it. I work in a correctional facility in a neighboring county and the tarantulas used to cruise through the facility during mating season.
They seem to have stopped though, the inmates seemed to think they made great pets...
I have however, witnessed it. I work in a correctional facility in a neighboring county and the tarantulas used to cruise through the facility during mating season.
They seem to have stopped though, the inmates seemed to think they made great pets...
May 4, 2023 05:14:32 #
BassmanBruce wrote:
I found this:
https://www.uncovercolorado.com/events/la-junta-tarantula-migration/
Not my cuppa tea! lol!
https://www.uncovercolorado.com/events/la-junta-tarantula-migration/
Not my cuppa tea!
lol!I wonder if the males will still die if they don’t find a mate.
Bruce.
May 4, 2023 06:54:21 #
I laughed when I read and saw your message. I remember one year when my wife and I were traveling through Arkansas during the autumn season and saw the same thing there crossing the highway. I stopped and top a photo of the tarantulas as they were climbing onto our tires of the car. Many were mashed on the highway. Enjoy life while you can. They were the size of the hand of my wife,,,
May 4, 2023 07:38:03 #
May 4, 2023 10:21:59 #
riderxlx wrote:
I wonder if the males will still die if they don’t find a mate.
Bruce.
Bruce.
That might be an explanation for why I haven’t seen many of them for a few years.
May 4, 2023 11:13:26 #
Ed Chu wrote:
apparently this happens every year, and last year La Junta held a Migration Festival; anyone familiar with this ?
This is the photography discussion section. Why are you wasting our time with this? (Okay, flame away.)
May 4, 2023 11:20:14 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
CrazyJane wrote:
This is the photography discussion section. Why are you wasting our time with this? (Okay, flame away.)
The OP wanted to know if this was a real thing and worthwhile going to. The answers are "yes" and "yes". A very fair question for this site. And even though tarantulas tend to be big, the OP should still pack a macro lens.
May 4, 2023 12:04:20 #
Ed Chu
Loc: Las Vegas NV
CrazyJane wrote:
This is the photography discussion section. Why are you wasting our time with this? (Okay, flame away.)
not a fair question; I asked because this was the first I have heard of it, and I might want to go next year; just because you are not interested in a subject doesn't mean someone else isn't
May 4, 2023 14:01:13 #
We hit the same thing over 60 years ago when we lived in Sealy, Texas. There was one place on the road south of Sealy where tarantulas were continually crossing. We named it "Tarantula Terrace." If I were so facile then with a camera as I am now I would have photographed it.
May 4, 2023 14:54:08 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
We have similar tarantula activity each year here in California, too...
It's one of the times I put away the 100mm macro and get out the 180mm!
It's one of the times I put away the 100mm macro and get out the 180mm!
May 4, 2023 17:59:08 #
Flying Three
Loc: Berthoud, CO
I witnessed the migration back before they had a festival on my way to the Purgatoire River to see the dinosaur tracks. Both are phenomenal!!!
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