Tarantulas On The Move

During Bunny Teatime this morning, as the sun rose up over the mountains twenty miles away, the Mrs and I got treated to a stunning coyote song from across the arroyo. The whole pack joined in from little squeaks to long mournful wails. This set off packs from at least two other places until we were surrounded by yipping and yowling, something that hadn't happened yet in the daytime and instantly froze our cottontail friends in their tracks. With all this succulent flesh hopping and munching around you just knew the dogs weren't far behind, and for whatever reason (sheer joy at another nice, warm day? marking territory?), they cut loose with great song.

I never would have guessed it but the Big Arachnids in this whole region have mating habits just like elk and deer, at least according to local rangers. Twice now on backroads we came across tarantulas that were obviously on a trek of some sort. Seems when the weather turns the males get the urge to merge and set off Xcountry with a purpose. One was a big old guy, about six inches in wingspan with grizzled grey whiskers. Even after I picked him up and playfully put him on the Mrs' arm, all he wanted to do was to get going again on his hairy mission of love. (Just kidding.)

Rattlesnakes, on the other hand, seem to have disappeared for the season.