The Austin TX Insects are getting worse and worse... Look what we found on the side of our house yesterday!!
This picture was taken from about 8 feet away because my husband reminded me that Tarantulas can jump up to 10 feet, so I wasn't comfortable getting any closer. My neighbors even came out to see what the commotion was as they're from Wisconsin and had never seen on before. Granted, I've lived in Texas over 25 years and I've never seen one in person before!!
It was more disturbing when it jumped off and started walking in the grass. We were all mesmerized by it for quite a while.
According to some websites, Tarantulas don't usually come out during the day unless it's mating season and then it's only the male scoping out for a mate. Makes me feel better knowing that my daughter and I walk barefoot in the grass when it's dark and there could be creep-crawlies around.
The websites also said that Tarantulas found around houses aren't necessarily dangerous and wouldn't carry any venom. Excuse me, but how does the Tarantula know if their home is going to stay "nature" or become a housing community? When they see houses start to be built, they think, "Oh, people are going to move in so let me get rid of all my venom..."
Anyway, to put the size into perspective, it's about 1/3 the size of a regular house brick as you can see below.
Any way you look at it, it's still VERY gross!
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Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
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Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way.
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We used to catch them when I was a kid.
Rarely see them anymore though.
You are more likely to get hurt avoiding the Tarantula than by any bite. I bet they just look at us and laugh!!
Donna,
I saw one just like this in our front yard last week. Cara put a glass over it until I got home. She didn't think I'd believe her. You should of snapped a picture of it next to your big toe or something. This would have illustrated how small or how big it was.
Donna, can you believe some people buy tarantulas for pets?
Tom, The internet was saying to catch them and sell them, but I couldn't get that close!
Greg, No way would I get that close!!
Jon, And those are crazy people!!
Funny story, my daughter saw it too, and I pointed out it was a tarantula. She smiles and nods, as she's only 22 months. I ask her if she knows what it is. She says no. I tell her it's a Spider. She says, "EWWW YUCKY!!!"
She might not know what a tarantula is, but she knows spiders are YUCKY!!
Oh.. thats a tiny spider Donna. Based on the first picture, I thought it was the size of my fist.. then you give us that second picture and its the size of a typical house spider. Besides, he/she doesnt look like they are ready to jump at you. Still though.. no need to sleep in the same bed with a big spider.
Donna we had one walk right up our drive way and into the garage a few weeks back. This is not the first time we have seen them. They say if there is one there is more so be on the look out.
Hi Donna ~ Aaaaaaccckkk!! This is when I remember that I should be happy to live in a place with winter - it cuts way down on the bug possibilities.
Liz
Yes - eeeekkkk. I would have probably stayed even further away. On the other hand Brian would have probably taken it for a walk - LOL. He used to catch all kinds of bugs and snakes when he was a kid. ~Rita
That is one ugly tarantula! I'd take it over a snake any day. I'd still get rid of it though.
What a gross looking thing Donna! Can only imagine what it was like finding it! New meaning to barefoot in the grass! Have a great Columbus weekend!
John, that thing is the size of 1 1/2 of my fists! Are your fists like the size of watermelons?
C & C, I'm not gonna look for anything! They can move along to the neighbor's...
Liz, A nice freeze can kill 'em all!
Rita, Mike is a scardy-cat of spiders!!
Kay, I'm not sure if I would take the snake of the tarantula... the tarantula is probably slower and I could run faster!
A & P, It was terifiying!! Like that movie where all the tarantulas were dropping from the ceilings and making webs around everyone and everything. *scream*
Hi Donna... I side with Alyssa on this one... EWWWW! YUCKY!
I dont think my fists are that big, but it just didnt look that large in the bigger picture. LOL
Gross. I've seen a handful of them up at Lake LBJ in Marble Falls but never any here in Austin; scorpions too. Yuck-O!
Donna, they're just trying to find their home that was there before development. New construction in this area tends to have more critters of the insect kind (and sometimes snake kind) because their habitat has been destroyed and they're confused because home USED to be there.
Though our neighbors in Barton Hills did have tarantulas and we didn't, and those houses were built in the 1950's, but two doors past them renovations were going on and I suspect that stirred things up.
They never caused any problems, but we did have to remind Matt, the little boy about your daughter's age, who lived next door, not to play with them no matter how cool they looked. Interesting that your daughter didn't think it was yuck until you told her it was a spider.
Hey, Donna. I was hoping that you were speaking about a Halloween decoration and not the real thing. I like them better when they are in cages. Thanks for sharing and I am glad to hear that everyone is safe, Jim
I saw your entry on Facebook last night and couldn't wait for today's blog!
Was that guy one of the upgrades you ordered for your new home?!!!
Steve, She's a smart cookie!
John, But in the picture, you can't see its legs all spread out and walking.
Taylor, Yes, I've had two scorpians in my house thus far.
Tricia, She didn't see it until after I had told her it was a spider. She might have said yuck before that.
Jim, That would have been interesting if it came out on Halloween as someone playing a joke.
Craig, No, it was one of the freebies they threw in for all the trouble they've caused!
Ewwww! I'm so glad we haven't seen any of these around our parts! Stay safe!
Sincerely,
Kathleen
When I lived in Oklahoma we not only had tarantulas, but we had scorpions and rattlesnakes. Yuk!!
Donna,
Just looking at those pictures makes my skin crawl. I don't even like little spiders much less something that size that can jump.
Kathleen, I wish I hadn't seen it!
Cindy, I've had two scorpians in my house thus far, but no rattlesnakes.
Brian, I know!