In case anyone else would like to guess first, which you should do at Louise's blog [not here] [also do not click to open up this post] the answer is in the comments.
The story behind this is the Cooper household in Arkansas, which is terrain that hosts a healthy population of Tarantulas. Evidently they built their house on top of one or two Tarantula homes [I think Louise's heart skipped a beat?] which are just holes in the ground. But I am pretty sure the house was thankfully on a slab. What happened though was the Tarantulas kept coming back for years trying to find the old homestead! The Coopers would find them climbing up the brick walls, something that just about drove Mrs. Cooper to head to parts elsewhere evidently. They kept coming for years; some varieties can live up to 10 years and that seems to include the Cooper's Tarantulas.
Elephants also try to keep coming back to old homesteads if something blocks their way, something featured in an old Elizabeth Taylor movie. That behavior gave us the expression "an elephant never forgets" ... amongst other behavior evidently [see http://animal.discovery.com/tv/a-list/creature-countdowns/myths/myths.html]
Another surprising thing about the Arkansas Tarantulas is that they did not necessarily scurry away when you spotted them. Often they would rear back and threaten. When you consider that their bite is relatively harmless that is a bit surprising. I'm thinking elephants don't back down either so that is two ways they are like them - heh heh.
So did you pet the tarantulas? I always wonder how furry they are. They look like they have more hair than Fievel, especially now that he's grown soft in the southern hemisphere.
that last was me of course. I should have made it clear that the terrain where the Coopers built was prime for tarantulas for some reason. In most terrain in Arkansas you didnt see too many. It was unbelievable how many were around the Cooper's area though.
I guess we will find out whether or not I should be blogging. But here goes; I really can get going on some of these things, so we'll put it out there and see if we get yawns, catcalls, or maybe some responses.
6 comments:
The story behind this is the Cooper household in Arkansas, which is terrain that hosts a healthy population of Tarantulas. Evidently they built their house on top of one or two Tarantula homes [I think Louise's heart skipped a beat?] which are just holes in the ground. But I am pretty sure the house was thankfully on a slab. What happened though was the Tarantulas kept coming back for years trying to find the old homestead! The Coopers would find them climbing up the brick walls, something that just about drove Mrs. Cooper to head to parts elsewhere evidently. They kept coming for years; some varieties can live up to 10 years and that seems to include the Cooper's Tarantulas.
Elephants also try to keep coming back to old homesteads if something blocks their way, something featured in an old Elizabeth Taylor movie. That behavior gave us the expression "an elephant never forgets" ... amongst other behavior evidently [see http://animal.discovery.com/tv/a-list/creature-countdowns/myths/myths.html]
Another surprising thing about the Arkansas Tarantulas is that they did not necessarily scurry away when you spotted them. Often they would rear back and threaten. When you consider that their bite is relatively harmless that is a bit surprising. I'm thinking elephants don't back down either so that is two ways they are like them - heh heh.
When I suggested a move to northwest Arkansas, you failed to mention the tarantulas. Scratch Arkansas off the list immediately!
Great. So you can never get rid of them.
I'm not moving to Arkansas either. I don't recall tarantulas when I visited there but I don't need to check it out.
So did you pet the tarantulas? I always wonder how furry they are. They look like they have more hair than Fievel, especially now that he's grown soft in the southern hemisphere.
Some people have tarantulas for pets, usually the bright Mexican ones, but I didnt have any as pets... or pet any!
that last was me of course. I should have made it clear that the terrain where the Coopers built was prime for tarantulas for some reason. In most terrain in Arkansas you didnt see too many. It was unbelievable how many were around the Cooper's area though.
Uncle Carl
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