Texas Currently Has Swimming Tarantulas That Exist To Wholly Ruin Humans

Aug 26, 2020 by apost team

A video posted by Big Bend Ranch State Park-Texas Parks and Wildlife showing a tarantula swimming has recently resurfaced, after going viral since its posting in 2018.

A healthy aversion to spiders is something the majority of us may have. Although, some of us may be unfortunate enough to be affected by arachnophobia, a crippling fear of them. If you are concerned about when and where you may come into contact with spiders, look away now because we don't think you'll be swimming in any bodies of water soon without peering over your shoulder.

A tarantula was spotted in a Texas State Park swimming across a lake at quite a high speed, which means you may want to take an extra minute or two to check the water in the future. The video of the tarantula swimming was uploaded by Big Bend Ranch State Park in Presidio, Texas, on Facebook.

Spiders affect our environment in different ways. For example, they can have a positive effect by eating a range of insects that can become pests when left unattended.

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The video of the swimming tarantula has already gone viral and looks like something from a horror movie as the eight-legged creature skims across the top of the water. With over 914,000 views, the video has generated a lot of different reactions from people.

One user wrote, "They really are quite magnificent and gentle. Don’t kill it; leave it alone and it will leave you alone." Another less sympathetic user said, "I'll never get in the water again!" A third added, "That was terrifyingly cool."

The park said, "Did you know that tarantulas can ‘swim?’ With their legs acting as paddles, they can row across water." In the video, it doesn't look like the tarantula made it safely across but the park confirmed to Fox 10 News in Phoenix that it used the current to help drift to the shore and to safety.

Research from the University of Manchester found that spiders only swim as a result of an accident, for instance when they fall in the water, or try to get away from another predator.

"Most tarantulas probably never have to face the need to swim, but it is clear that if they must swim, they have the behavioral plasticity to do so," the study reported. 

If you are a fan of spiders or not, you will be amazed by the swimming tarantula of Texas and you will want your friends and family to read this article. Take a look at the video and let us know in the comments what you think about the amazing swimming tarantula of Texas.