Season of Love for Tarantulas

Video and music by Patrick McCormick

Tarantulas are back in Mt. Diablo!

Mating season is underway for these eight-legged creatures. Hikers and bikers in Mt. Diablo might expect to see male tarantulas wandering the park looking for a mate, while female tarantulas wait in nearby burrows.

For the males, the search for a mate is sometimes fatal. Tarantulas reach maturity at 10 years, but most males die within a year of mating. Females enjoy longer lifespans up to 20 years, according to the National Park Service website.


While tarantulas are intimidating, they're actually gentle in nature. When provoked, they may raise their front legs to look more intimidating, or bite.

It was believed that the bite caused by these creatures would cause the disease of extreme impulse to dance, called 'tarantism,' which was prevalent in southern Italy in the 15th and century.

Have you seen tarantulas in Mt. Diablo park this year? Leave a comment.