When we were hiking the last week of November, we were surprised to see five tarantulas. Seeing the first one, I thought it must be dead – we have had several nights below freezing. But it was alive – just waiting for the sun to warm it. The ones in the shade were still; the ones in the sun were beginning to move. It’s very late in the year for them to be out.
Mescal Canyon, near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, USA.
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Always Backroads 
Well, thanks a whole lot for the photo of an arachnophobe’s worst nightmare! At least it’s only an image on the computer. How big are these darn critters? What do they eat, stray puppies? 🙂
Ever so sorry! There should be a warning sign I could post. This guy is only about the size of your palm (with his legs tucked in). The males are the ones seen – they are looking for a mate. They don’t bite, can be picked up, but are very fragile. The females live in burrows and can bite. Mostly it’s only the male tarantulas that have to worry about that.
Donna, how strange, I don’t if I ever saw one anywhere this late in 30 odd years in the country around ALB and Rio Rancho.
I could understand one – there’s always an odd guy out. But five?? Very strange.
Whew, I’d be so scared if I saw a tarantula.
The males are quite gentle. Nobody jumping up at you! And these were certainly not moving very fast.