Tens of thousands of tarantulas set to crawl across parts of US soon

In the southwestern and western parts of the U.S., tens of thousands of male tarantulas will crawl out of the ground in search of a mate this fall

Back and roll. No, it's not a horror movie. It's a natural phenomenon

Go on, take that. But if you have arachnophobia, consider yourself warned. Tarantula mating season is coming

Scientists say the spiders will be abundant in California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas

But for those who don't fear the spider, scientists warn that's not the best idea

Well, I'm glad you called me. No room for amateurs in this game

Touching the spiders can be painful because they have tiny barbed hairs on their abdomen

These hairs can flick off their back feet like darts, as one scientist describes

The result can be painful irritation on the skin or in the eye if you are seeking an up-close look

If a tarantula comes into contact with your camping gear or clothing, experts recommend a good wiping or removing the hairs by dabbing your bedding with duct tape where they may have stuck

Wildlife officials also say picking them up is just plain rude. They note they don't want to be picked up. It's a wild animal

And if that's not enough to deter you, consider this. Scientists say a tarantula can jump as high as two feet Despite these defenses scientists stress these spiders don pose a threat to humans unless someone already has a severe allergy In that case you may want to steer clear of hiking

this time of year in the southwestern states. These spiders live largely in dry climates in

Arizona, California, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, although

some species can be found in Florida, Oklahoma, and Missouri. If you're hoping to see the tarantulas

your best bet is at night because they're nocturnal, but park officials don't recommend

that due to safety concerns. Males make the trek while females wait in their burrows for a potential

suitor. Once done mating, males often die, living only around five years in total. Females, however

can live up to 25 years and almost always stay near their dens. Depending on if she's hungry or

has ample food stocked up, the female may eat the male after he dies. If a male fails to find a mate

they can potentially burrow for another year. Though scientists say the more likely reality is they'll die of exhaustion from the journey

The spiders are not just a spectacle. They're important to biodiversity of ecosystems

They help spur healthy soil regeneration and filter water through their burrows

They are also food sources for larger mammals, reptiles, birds, and the notorious tarantula hawk wasp

For more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey