Yep, that's a spider!

While trekking around the Grasslands loop of Mission Trails Regional Park the other weekend, I saw this beast of a spider, among many others. With the cool nights and shorter fall days, this guy and his friends and family are definitely all coming out to see what is going on. In true tarantula form, he showed his appreciation for my attention by displaying his rear end prominently. If you're lucky, maybe you'll see some of these around the county as well. And, as long as I'm discussing things that come out this time of year, keep a weather eye out for Rattlesnakes, as I also spotted one of those lurking around near dusk, getting ready to hunt for prey. See you on the trail!