OKLAHOMA — Brown tarantulas are common across the southern U.S., including Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. September marks their mating season, so they might be easier to spot now.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) notes that brown tarantulas are one of 30 tarantula species in the U.S. and 800 species worldwide.
Unlike many spiders, tarantulas don’t spin webs to catch prey. Instead, they live in burrows and use silk to line their homes and trap insects like grasshoppers and crickets. Tarantulas are nocturnal hunters and use silk at their burrow entrances as a warning system against predators.
While their appearance might be intimidating to some, brown tarantulas are generally non-aggressive. They may raise their front legs and show their fangs if threatened, but their venom is usually only dangerous to small animals and not life-threatening to humans.
The brown tarantula, also known as the Oklahoma brown tarantula, weighs between one to three ounces and has a leg span of four to five inches. They typically live in dry, desert areas but can also be found in damp forests. In Oklahoma and Arkansas, they often hide under rocks and logs.
In September, male tarantulas start migrating to find mates, which is when they are most commonly seen near human settlements. Males live about a year, while females can live up to 30 years. After mating, females lay eggs in their burrows and stay nearby until they hatch.
Young tarantulas molt several times as they grow, shedding their old exoskeletons. Older tarantulas molt less frequently, about once every two years. Their brown and tan hairs serve as camouflage and a defense mechanism against predators like snakes, coyotes, foxes, and birds. These hairs can cause itching if they come into contact with skin.