Residents prepare to see hundreds of tarantulas crawling across Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — A giant, eight-legged arachnid will soon make an appearance in Oklahoma during the spookiest time of year.

Late August through October is brown tarantula mating season.

The brown tarantula, also known as the Oklahoma brown tarantula (or Texas brown, or Missouri brown, depending on which state you live in) typically lives in arid, desert regions and sometimes in damp forests, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.

During the fall, however, male tarantulas make a trek across large swaths of Oklahoma looking for a mate. That's when people are most likely to see them next to buildings and roads.

A typical brown tarantula can weigh between 1 and 3 ounces and get up to 4-5 inches long (leg span-wise).

The life cycle of a tarantula can vary. Females have been known to live for several decades, while males generally only live for a year.

The Oklahoma brown tarantula is one of 30 species in the United States. Across the globe, there are more than 800 species of tarantulas.