Tarantula Causes Traffic Collision In Death Valley

Above, a male tarantula, native to New Mexico, attracts a kitten's attention. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that we're in autumn, we are seeing tarantulas out and about. These are males looking for females to mate with. (If successful, their "happy endings" usually involve getting eaten by the female.)

Quite often, we see them crossing roads. I see about two or three of them a week during these mating seasons. I try to avoid running them over, so the following story is understandable. It is also getting a lot of press.

From the People Magazine website:

A tarantula was the culprit in a traffic accident Saturday in California’s Death Valley National Park, resulting in a motorcyclist being hospitalized. 

The National Park Service (NPS) said in a news release that a rented camper van carrying a Swiss couple suddenly stopped to avoid hitting a tarantula while crossing CA-190 east of Towne Pass in the park.

A 24-year-old Canadian man on a motorcycle crashed into the rear of the camper van, per the statement. An NPS ambulance took the injured motorcyclist to Desert View Hospital in Pahrump, per officials.

As a former insurance adjuster, this sounds to me like a incident of comparative negligence at best. It appears that the motorcyclist was following too close to the camper when the camper's driver jammed on the brakes. But then, suppose it was a child they stopped for. Maybe 90/10% negligence on the motorcyclist's part.

To read the full story, go here.

Cattle, Tarantula On A Restful Sunday

Above, cattle grazing in a field two doors north of my place. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was mostly a restful one.

Since tonight's temperature is expected drop down to freezing (32 degrees), I plugged in The Beast in the GOCO Beast Barn so that I could run the holding tank heaters. I also have a space heater to warm up the undercarriage near the holding tanks.

After that was done, I grabbed an Alien Amber Ale and relaxed on the deck. While there, I noticed cows walking just beyond a neighbor's property two doors north. I took some pictures from the deck and then took a walk down the road to get a little better vantage point.

Above, a view of the cattle (above the truck) from my deck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After that, I returned to the deck to finish my ale.

Above, Mr. Spider looking for a mate on my deck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Then, not too long later, I looked down from my chair and saw a New Mexico tarantula walking on the deck. Right now, it is mating season for tarantulas and the males are out looking for females. 

So, besides being a relaxing day, it was an interesting one as well.

The Kitten and the Tarantula

Above, the kitten and the tarantula. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After a two-hour nap (the time change wreaked havoc on my sleep last night), I went outside with a cup of coffee and a cigar on the deck to admire the view when I noticed one of P.K.'s kittens involved with something.

I turned and looked and saw that the kitten had found a tarantula. The spider was doing its best to ignore and walk away from the kitten. I approached and the kitten backed away (the kittens are still leery of me although their mom is affectionate with me). The tarantula used the opportunity to get away.

Usually, tarantulas will come out when it's breeding time. This is the first one I've seen this year. I saw several last year.

According to Western Exterminator:

Tarantulas have a mating season just like most animals do. For tarantulas, the urge and need to mate come in the fall and they become most active during the months of September and October. Of course, there are variations year after year and sometimes they come out earlier or later than other times.

Thankfully, cell phones have cameras and I took some pictures of the kitten with the tarantula.

Here they are:

Ramp Finished

Above, the finished ramp. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After going to see the cardiologist and having breakfast with the neighbors down at Denny's, I came home to find that Russell installed and graded the top layer of gravel onto the ramp into the second acre.

Above, trying it out with The Beast. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I was looking at it, Russell and his wife came by. I told him he did a fast and great job.

I also tried it out with The Beast and everything went perfectly.

Above, another view. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since the ramp extends into the existing "road" through the property alongside the GOCO Beast Barn, I'm now calling it Barking Spider Road.

Above, the NM tarantula. No, it didn't bark, just growled. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Speaking of spiders, I found a black (with red) New Mexico tarantula on my walkway. It is the first time I've seen one since I've lived here.

For the fun of it, I ordered an aluminum street sign (only $10.00) through BuildASign.com.

Here's what it will look like:

Spiders in Japan: The Tiniest Kaiju

Above, Kumonga from Godzilla Final Wars. Toho Co., Ltd.

One of the most "popular" monsters in horror movies are spiders, big ones (as in Tarantula (1955)) and small ones (as in Arachnophobia (1990)).

Godzilla movies have featured a giant spider named Kumonga (sometimes called Spiga) who first appeared in Son of Godzilla in 1967 and later in Godzilla Final Wars (2000).

Above, a scene from Tarantula (1955). Universal-International Pictures.

However, spiders have play roles in Japanese folklore and Tofugu.com has an article about them, "Spiders in Japan: The Tiniest Kaiju."

It begins with:

Arachnophobes be warned. Today’s article is all about our little eight-legged friends. Spiders, and monsters inspired by them, have held a place in Japanese culture for centuries. Japan is also currently dealing with the problem of a spider species from abroad. Meanwhile, a Japanese company has developed a spider-derived technology for the future.  Grab your flashlights, and let’s see what we can find in Japan’s nooks and crannies.

 To read the full article, go here.