It’s time we embrace spider season (or at least make peace with it)

Tell me if this sounds familiar: You wake up early and want to get a bit of fresh air. OK, I know a lot of people get the creepy crawlies around our eight-legged friends, but in reality, there’s not much to be afraid of regarding spiders right now. “This is the time of year to see orb weaver spiders, and they are often out and about spinning their webs at night,” said Lila Higgins, co-senior manager of community science at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Higgins notes the venomous brown widow has been the most observed spider in Los Angeles County on the community science platform iNaturalist since Sept. 1, although there are also a few species of jumping spiders on the rankings as well. If you do happen to spot a tarantula on your hike, Higgins suggests an alternative reaction: First, know you’re super lucky to be able to see this awesome spider behavior.