Arches National Park High Desert Species

Large, hairy ground‑dwelling spiders that spend most of the year in burrows and emerge on warm nights to mate or hunt. In Arches they are most often seen crossing roads or trails in late summer and autumn evenings, and their burrows occur in sandy soils and under rock ledges.

Very large, heavy body with dense hair; slow, deliberate walking and visible burrow entrances; harmless if left alone but can flick hairs when threatened.

Common Confusions

• Wolf Spider Lycosidae spp. Wolf spiders are smaller, move faster, and lack dense body hair; tarantulas are larger, bulkier, and have a distinct slow, lumbering gait.
• Huntsman Spider Huntsman (rare) have flattened bodies and lateral legs for climbing; tarantulas are thicker‑bodied ground dwellers.