Conservancy Kids
We bring the Sonoran Desert to you!
Welcome to Conservancy Kids!
Amazing Arachnids
Eight Legs of Awesome
The (not so) Itsy Bitsy Desert Tarantula
Tarantulas are amazing creatures! You can find them on every continent except Antarctica and they can range in size from as small as a BB pellet (less than 0.2 inches in diameter) to as big as a dinner plate. Can you imagine taking your dinner plate-sized pet tarantula for a walk? And, in fact, many of the smaller species are popular exotic pets. In Arizona, there are 30 tarantula species, with the desert tarantula found across the Sonoran, Mohave, and Chihuahuan Deserts. Even though they look scary, tarantulas are very gentle creatures. As long as you respect them, they'll leave you alone. Join Rich as he teaches us more about the awesome Western Desert Tarantula.
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Contact us
Have questions about the Sonoran Desert? Want a lesson on a specific topic? Email us at nicole@mcdowellsonoran.org.
You can also connect by tagging us on Facebook or Instagram @mcdowellsonoranconservancy. We would love to see your science notebooks or learn what teaching resources you're using.
Nicole Kallman, Education Coordinator
Email: nicole@mcdowellsonoran.org
Rich Cochran, MD, Program Chair-Nature Guides
Science has always been a large part of Rich’s life during undergraduate, graduate and medical schools and throughout his career. After retiring, Rich has focused on studying and learning about the Sonoran Desert, especially the Arthropods that inhabit it. He is one of the Conservancy’s Nature Guides and loves educating children and adults about the Sonoran Desert.