If you are hiking on one of the many trails around southern or central Missouri you may see a  Missouri Tarantula!

The tarantula is on the move looking for mates and looking for a place to lay eggs and burrow down for the winter.

Though the tarantulas look fierce, and have fangs, their venom is not harmful to humans.  However, the large spiders will bite, if threatened. If bitm, you could run the risk of being allergic to the venom, causing a hospital stay.  The bite feels like a bee sting.

The tarantula diet consists of small lizards, spiders, crickets and grasshoppers.

If you encounter a tarantula give it space. It will scurry away fast if given the chance.

Most tarantulas come out at night in search of food and a mate.