They’re heeeeeerrrreeee! No, we aren’t talking about the child-stealing ghosts from Poltergeist, but rather the thousands of tarantulas that make their way through southern Colorado at the end of each summer. If you want to experience this incredible natural phenomenon for yourself, start making plans to visit the small town of La Junta now:

Taking place each year, La Junta comes to life not only in terms of incoming Otero Junior College students, but thousands of male tarantulas crossing the streets in search of their mate.
Jeffrey Beall/Wikimedia Commons
Beginning in late August, these creepy (yet cool) crawlies can be seen making their way from one side of Highway 109 to the other, as they use both touch and vibration to find mates in nearby burrows.
Flickr/Images by John 'K'
Thanks to southeast Colorado's proximity to the Comanche National Grassland (pictured) and other prairie settings, it is the perfect place for these arachnids to both find true love and a safe place to nest.
Hogs555/Wikimedia Commons

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While the tarantula migration takes place from late August through early October, the City of La Junta recommends visiting in early to mid-September, especially when the weather is warm and not windy. 
Flickr/Images by John 'K'
The best time to spot these giant and fast-moving spiders is an hour before sunset, which is said to be the busiest time of day along the highway. 
Flickr/Images by John 'K'
To learn more about this must-see event - including ideal viewing locations - please contact the Comanche National Grassland Resource Office via their website or phone ((719) 384-2811), or email the City of La Junta.
Flickr/Linda Tanner

Do you have a special event that you would like to see featured on Only in Colorado? Nominate it here! For even more to do during your trip to La Junta, check out This One Small Colorado Town Has More Outdoor Attractions Than Any Other Place In The State.

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La Junta, CO 81050, USA