Tarantula Migration in Oklahoma 2025

The Oklahoma brown tarantula commonly lives in desert regions and sometimes in damp forests. However, during the fall, male tarantulas trek across large swaths of Oklahoma looking for a mate. Buildings and roads are the most likely places where people will see them at that time.

Tarantula season in Oklahoma: when and where is the best time to see spider migration

It's not easy to spot an Oklahoma brown tarantula. These spiders spend most of their lives inside burrows. However, starting in late August, they leave their hideouts and can be seen on short grass prairies and crossing roads in the southwestern part of the state. Fall is mating season for tarantulas, so males venture out into the wild to look for females.

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Tarantulas live in burrows in wooded areas and rocky terrains, so you might be lucky enough to spot them in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, which preserves approximately 60,000 acres (24,281 hectares) of ancient granite mountains, mixed grass prairie, lakes, and streams.

The refuge offers a variety of activities for visitors, including hunting, fishing, backpacking, biking, birding, climbing, and more. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge also provides a range of camping opportunities through its online reservation system. Additionally, there are many parking lots throughout the refuge. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily with free admission. The area is located 99 miles (159 km) from Oklahoma City, which is about a 1.5-hour drive.

What is tarantula migration

In the fall in Oklahoma, adult male tarantulas start to wander in search of a female's burrow. When a tarantula finds the right one, it rattles its pedipalps—a pair of appendages attached to its head—in front of the entrance. If the female is ready to mate, she will crawl to the surface. After mating, approximately commonly females kill their partners, prompting the males to try to escape as quickly as possible. In spite of this, even males who escape their partners' clutches usually die within a year of escaping them.

General information about brown tarantulas

Brown tarantulas are quite large, reaching about five inches (13 cm) from leg to leg. Despite their size and fearsome looks, tarantulas are usually harmless to humans. Their venom, however, is capable of killing insects.

The spiders prefer open areas and sandy soil types. So they are more common in western parts of the state where the climate is arid. The area around the city of Hollis is known for tarantula abundance. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is another good place to look for them. Tarantulas are most active right before sunset.

By the arrival of cold weather, tarantulas are usually gone. Males rarely live long after mating and could even be eaten by their partners. Females mostly stay in their burrows as they lay from 100 to 1000 eggs each year.