Here are some fun facts about
Tarantulas at Los Vaqueros:
They usually appear in October at LV while looking for a mate. Generally, the males die shortly after mating, but the females can live more than 25 years.
They usually don't wear tennis shoes.
The most common North American tarantula is Eurypelma californicum, found in California, Texas, and Arizona. A 30-year life span has been recorded for one individual of this species.
Tarantulas are harmless to humans and can be trained as pets.
The tarantula spins no web but catches its prey by pursuit. It does spin silk, though. Females use the silk to line their burrows, and tarantulas use silk to store dead prey.
There are more than 800 species of tarantulas.
The tarantula is a nocturnal hunter. It does not spin a web to capture its prey, but catches food with speed. It will take virtually anything of the right size that moves within range, but feeds primarily on small insects like grasshoppers, beetles, sow bugs, other small spiders and sometimes small lizards.
The tarantula strikes with its fangs, injecting venom and grasping the prey with its palps, arm like appendages between the mouth and legs. Then the tarantula grinds its victim into a ball, secretes digestive juices onto it, and sucks up the liquefied prey. It may also wrap the prey in silk for a later meal.
What About Cattle and Sheep On The Trails?
You may run into cattle or sheep on the trails. They are not aggressive, but they are large animals.
Here are some safety tips:
Approach cattle and sheep slowly. Most will move away as people approach on foot or bicycle.
If possible, walk around groups of cattle, not through them.
Don't approach calves, even though they may seem cute. Their moms are usually watching and will not be happy.
Avoid getting between calves and their mothers.
If you see a sick cow or sheep, please report it to our staff at the Watershed office, Marina or the entrance gates.
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Los Vaqueros Tarantula Run
Records Fall, Jenny Wilson is
First Woman to Win Overall Tarantula Run Race
Thomas Taylor now owns two course records
Updated Oct. 27, 2009
Jenny Wilson became the first woman to win a Tarantula Run race outright Saturday, Oct. 24.
The Fourth Annual Los Vaqueros Tarantula Run was held under glorious blue skies, with warm temperatures and little wind. Two early season rainstorms softened the hilly dirt trail courses.
Jenny of Discovery Bay won the 10k by more than two minutes and set a new women's record with a time of 42:51, she finished third overall the last time she competed in the run two years ago.
Thomas Taylor of Phoenix now owns two course records after winning the 5K in 17:24, breaking Nathan Litwiller's 2007 record by 21 seconds. Last year, the Phoenix-based runner won the half-marathon and set the course record by more than nine minutes. Thomas, who also won the spring Wildflower Run at Los Vaqueros, is the only person to have set two course records.
The women's record in the 5K also fell with Lisa Penzel of Oakland recording a 23:04, smashing the old mark by 48 seconds.
In all, there were 19 outright course records set during the run. Ana Christensen of Dublin shaved one minute and 20 seconds off her 50-59 age group time to win her second medal straight blue ribbon in 28:02.
Sharon Kovar of Alamo won her third straight women's half-marathon title with a time of 1:46:26, breaking her own record set in 2007 by nearly three minutes.
Jason Perez of Brentwood won the half-marathon in 1:29:54 after finishing second a year ago. He passed second-place finisher Nick Wallace of Conelius, OR at the nine-mile mark.
In all, more than 333 runners participated in the three major events at the run.
