Are tarantulas poisonous?
No, and neither are rattlesnakes or scorpions. They are all venomous, not poisonous. This may seem like splitting hairs but poisons are ingested (eaten) while venoms are injected. Tarantulas are very docile and seldom bite. If you should threaten them sufficiently their bite feels much like a bee sting. Tarantulas, scorpions and rattlesnakes are maligned and misunderstood creatures: the hype about these venomous critters of the Sonoran Desert does not match the truth. They know that humans and their pets are a threat — not food items or prey. These shy creatures prefer to avoid an encounter and flee. A hissing, rattling rattlesnake is more likely feeling defensive than aggressive; don’t handle these creatures if you see them on the trails. Don’t panic either — take a few steps back, then take a minute to observe at a safe distance, take a photo or two, and allow the creature to cross the trail and return to a hiding place.
