In 1861, a scientist with the California Geologic Survey described tarantulas on Mount Diablo as "attaining the size of a half-grown mouse, possessing fangs the size of a rattlesnake’s, and delivering a bite generally considered fatal.” Fake news or gruesome reality?

Join Greenbelt Alliance for this virtual presentation and hear the truth about Mount Diablo’s eight-legged “teddy bears.” Learn about a dance named for the tarantula, and find out the identity of the famous movie star who made his film debut fighting a giant spider in a 1950's science fiction flick.

We also take a look at some of the other notorious, but mostly misunderstood, critters that call the Bay Area home and how many of them are impacted by climate change.

PRESENTERS: Liz Watson and Ken Lavin, on July 24, 2021.

Learn more about Greenbelt Alliance at https://www.greenbelt.org/​​​.