COMMENT 334384
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2012-10-22 03:26 PM |
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A few years ago I was biking with a group when one of the guys stopped and got down on his knees to look at a Tarantula. Then he decided to poke at the Tarantula with a twig. Unfortunately the Tarantula then jumped on the back on his head. Never saw someone move so fast. The rest of us were ROFL !! The Tarantula survived the ordeal. Since then I've had a couple of pet Tarantulas, but have never seen one jump like that.
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COMMENT 334393
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2012-10-22 03:41 PM |
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Hey, we saw a tarantula near W. Mountain Drive and 192 on Saturday too!! Never seen one IN Santa Barbara before, just in Santa Ynez. It was also in the road, looked like the one in the first picture here.
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COMMENT 334399
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2012-10-22 03:46 PM |
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Years ago I saw a swarm of them crossing highway 154 between 101 and Mattei's tavern. They must be migrating, or getting ready for Halloween!
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NATURE BOY
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2012-10-22 03:48 PM |
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I once came across a tarantula on Anapamu & Milpas right in front of the SB Bowl! In the middle of the street! I picked him up with some cardboard and brought him to the hills behind the Bowl parking lot. Never thought I'd see one that far in town!
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COMMENT 334428
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2012-10-22 04:30 PM |
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Did anyone ask why the tarantula was crossing the road?
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COMMENT 334435P
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2012-10-22 05:27 PM |
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428: Yup!
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REXOFSB
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2012-10-22 05:31 PM |
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@428: There was no spider. There was no road. the spider is a metaphorical manifestation of your pathological and subconcious fear. Fear of what you may ask? The chicken!
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PAMSB
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2012-10-22 05:35 PM |
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When we had our ranch in Santa Ynez in the early 80s, we were told by a neighbor that these are trapdoor spiders, not tarantulas. I always believed him since he was a native of the area and I'm a KY transplant who thought tarantulas were from another country...LOL So, any experts out there? Tarantulas? Trapdoor? Both?
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EMUWREN1
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2012-10-22 06:11 PM |
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Tarantulas and Trapdoor spiders are two completely different arachnids/spiders. Trapdoor spiders are known to be "tropical spiders." However, there is a southwestern Trapdoor spider (Bothriocyrtum californium), but, although also described as being "hairy," the Trapdoors of California are nowhere near the size of a Tarantula. (The burrow opening for the California trapdoor spider is one-inch in diameter.) Trapdoor spider legs look much more pointy and less hairy, as well. About 15 years ago, I was crossing Anapamu St,, right where Crispin's Leather used to be (mid-block, between State & Chapala). Lo, and behold, there was a tarantula, moseying across the street! I was en route to my aerobicis' class ("Powerhouse") and stopped only long enough to "help" the tarantula into my make-up bag. I showed him around to the ladies, after class. Then I drove him up to Las Tunas (behind Riviera Theatre) area. There used to be tarantula habitat there, until loads of chi-chi homes were installed. Let's hope my little guy had a good long life, after his relocation.
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EMUWREN1
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2012-10-22 06:16 PM |
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Correction: I meant to put "Las Alturas," NOT "Las Tunas." Las Alturas, near Mission Ridge area.
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COMMENT 334469
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2012-10-22 06:42 PM |
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YAY! for you guys that took the time to relocate the spiders to a safe location. Makes me happy to know that there are people like you.
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COMMENT 334477
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2012-10-22 07:27 PM |
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Harris Grade in Lompoc was a crossing point for a guy one day. I was surprised to see it in the roadway while driving and pulled over to snap a few shots. This was years ago, but just like this fellow it was in the middle of the road. I know it wasn't raining at the time though it's possible we were expecting some! Definitely a surprising sight to see when I didn't realize they lived around here. Why don't we have them in our homes? Not that I want to come across them but they seem to hang out mostly in the brush areas.
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COMMENT 334496P
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2012-10-22 08:22 PM |
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Do they really jump? That's creepy!
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COMMENT 334499
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2012-10-22 08:27 PM |
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I would cry like a little baby if I came across one.
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COMMENT 334509P
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2012-10-22 09:22 PM |
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I, personally, have no trouble in relocating them. That is the heck away from me and from anywhere I might be any where in the future.
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COMMENT 334517P
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2012-10-22 10:35 PM |
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Tarantulas are usually calm and cool. If provoked, however, they do have a nasty little "trick" that they use to defend themselves. They flick the hairs off their abdomens, using their hind legs. (Check it out on YouTube. Fascinating stuff.) These hairs are very much like fine cactus needles, in that the hairs are extremely irritating to one's skin/face. If you should happen to get these hairs in your eyes, you are in for, at minimum, a few hours' worth of painful experience. Don't annoy the tarantulas!
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EMUWREN1
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2012-10-22 10:47 PM |
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"Goliath Tarantula vs. TV Guy" on YouTube. Four minutes. Shows the world's largest "bug." And shows the hair-flicking defense.
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COMMENT 334564
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2012-10-23 08:28 AM |
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October is the month to see them. The foothills are alive with tarantulas. I don't know if they migrate, or perhaps it is mating season? But several years ago I was doing work at that retreat house at the top of the hill in October and there were tarantulas everywhere, on the walls of the buildlings and all over the hills. It was fantastic!
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MTNDRIVER
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2012-10-23 08:45 AM |
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I think it's mating season, haven't confirmed that but that's what I've always heard. Autumn in the SY valley, there are always lots of them crossing the roads. I brake for tarantulas!
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COMMENT 334619
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2012-10-23 10:12 AM |
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The tarantulas sense rain and cross the road to get to higher ground.
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COMMENT 334633
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2012-10-23 10:38 AM |
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MTNDRIVER, I brake for tarantulas needs to be a bumper sticker! That's great!
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NATURE BOY
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2012-10-23 06:56 PM |
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EMUWREN: Thanks for making me all itchy!! Oh WHY did i watch that YouTube video??? :)
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COMMENT 335131
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2012-10-24 10:59 AM |
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The males travel to find females. The females are larger, believe it or not, and they live for up to 20 years, or at least the Chilean Rosy Tarantula does. I once saw one in our driveway on Las Tunas, and this was before the houses were built on Santiago, The last patch of Indian bunch grass in the city was on that hill. There probably are still some in the non-landscaped areas of that project.
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