If you’ve spotted a big, fuzzy spider roaming your lawn at dusk lately, you’re not imagining things - it’s tarantula season in North Texas. From late May through October, mature male Texas brown tarantulas (Aphonopelma hentzi) emerge from their underground burrows in search of mates - especially after rain and warming spring weather.
One of Texas’s most recognizable arachnids, the Texas brown tarantula can reach up to 3-5 inches in leg span and weigh over 3 ounces. Despite their size, they’re generally docile and non-aggressive, and their bites - if ever provoked - are no worse than a bee sting. Still, their defensive hairs can cause skin or eye irritation, so it’s best to admire them from a distance.
📍 Where and When You're Likely to See Them
Tarantulas are most commonly spotted in grassy areas, woodlands, and suburban edges across DFW, including Tarrant and Denton Counties, especially near Cedar Hill State Park and residential yards on Carrollton’s west side.
Sightings spike after early evening into dawn, as female tarantulas typically stay safely in burrows while wandering males search for mates.
✅ What to Do (and Not Do)
Leave them be: Tarantulas are beneficial predators that help control pest insects and rarely pose a threat.
Don’t handle them: If provoked, they may rear up - and could flick urticating hairs (Urticating hairs (pronounced er-tick-ating) are tiny, barbed bristles found on the abdomen of some tarantula species) or bite defensively, causing minor irritation or pain.
Encountered indoors? Cover them gently with a cup and slide a piece of paper underneath to release outside - no gloves or bare hands needed.
🌟 Bottom Line
If you’re a fan of urban wildlife - or just enjoying the long Texas evenings - tarantula season offers a rare peek into the state’s natural rhythms. Remember: they’re more fascinating than frightening, and these gentle giants are simply out looking for love this time of year.
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