This week, two owners were out on the trails enjoying the C Trail when they spotted something truly unexpected. Early in the hike, near the C2 marker, they came across a tarantula calmly resting beside on the ground.
Based on the markings visible in the photo, the species appears to be Aphonopelma seemanni, commonly known as the Costa Rican zebra tarantula. This native species is found primarily in the dry forest regions of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, where it spends most of its life underground in burrows. Because of this, sightings like this one are quite rare, especially during daylight hours.
Tarantulas are not commonly found in Town, so encountering one on the trails is unusual and special. Despite their size and appearance, they are shy, non aggressive animals. They do not seek contact with humans and will only defend themselves if handled or threatened. Even then, bites are extremely rare and not dangerous to people. Their best known defense is releasing tiny urticating hairs, which is why the best approach is always to observe from a respectful distance and allow them to move on undisturbed.
The picture was taken by Megan Kauffman and shared by Andres Viroslav. We thank them for sharing this amazing encounter, a reminder that the trails are not only for hiking, but a shared home with many species.