BermudaObsessed

It is interesting to me that I believe tarantulas are on all the Caribbean islands, though its never discussed.SOme people are often shocked when they hear of the news.The only official website that tells you is Antigua...I believe all the islands should list their inhabitants in detail..I myself am a real arachnophobe, and dont want to be where they are all over...I have read so many reports of people running into them, even in a five star hotel room on St. Lucia.This is crazy to me..Does anyone have any thoughts about which Caribbean islands have the most? I believe they are Cuba, DR, Antigua, Tobago, Trinidad, and Martinique

Joelle

The local species in Martinique called "matoutou-falaise" is not a tarentula type, but a "trap-door spider" (so says my dictionnary... The correct name in French being "mygale&quot

People occasionally see them in the north of the island, mostly in the rain forest areas.

I have never seen any in the hotels in the south of Martinique, and I am also a real arachnophobe....

Robert59

Unfortunately, there are many invasive species of spiders that come to the Caribbean, including tarantulas and even black widow spiders. They get into islands by commerce and exotic pet people. Think of the shipments of grass, food, other items that new resort developments throughout the Caribbean need? The U.S. has huge tarantulas throughout the SW, and many find themselves inadvertantly packed in large crates which are shipped to the Caribbean. Also, people in the Caribbean actually buy tarantulas as pets, then let them go when they're tired of them. It doesn't bother me that tarantulas are in the Caribbean, for they're not dangerous to humans. I laugh at the old James Bond movie, where Sean Connery is in a bed somewhere in the Bahamas, and a tarantula crawls across his white bed sheets...remember that one, where he ends up clobbering it with his shoe about a dozen times? I wonder if that was released in the wilds there? Years ago, I helped saved the Bahama Parrot on Abaco Island in the Bahamas and ended up sleeping on the ground at night in southern Abaco Island. Large spiders were seen frequently, including in the sleeping bag when I woke up. We just coaxed them off with a newspaper. They aren't dangerous or aggressive. And, tarantulas are neat spiders and harmless. I would worry about imported non-native spiders like the black widow instead. Robert

jersey

Oh Robert, you would seriously be my hero if you would chase away any spider near me. Although you'd have to remove me from the ceiling first so I could thank you.

BermudaObsessed

Thank you..Well the funny thing is Im more afraid of their look, then their bite..I d rather be confronted with a black widow, then a harmless tarantula..Its an awful fear, and a very bad one..I actually was going to honeymoon in Antigua until I read many posts of people seeing them outside.Something I have to get over,but can't..I really can't even watch movies when tarantulas are in them..Do you have any experience with them in Turks and Caicos? I read your original post the other day about the Bahamas..I was surprised, because people never post that they have seen any there..And I was actually at one point thinking of staying at Kamalame Cay, where the hut rooms are on the beach ...Ha ha..Oh well

ejcrowe

I would be seriously surprised if there were any islands in the Caribbean where they're *not* found. I've seen those large, tarantula-like spiders in Antigua, Nevis, and Jamaica. I was told each time by locals that they are actually the large wolf spider and not a tarantula, but to my eyes they looked the same. FYI, they were all outdoors, not in our hotel room. though on Nevis the one we saw was on our balcony.

By all means, choose another island if just the thought of others' sightings would ruin your vacation. but you should also be prepared that any island, be it in the Caribbean or elsewhere, will be full of various creepy-crawlies. As long as you're okay with lizards and bugs, chances are good that you can avoid seeing large spiders.

SAnParis

I believe PR is missing any type of poisonous creature, & is actually one of the few places on earth that can make such a claim.

Joelle

Guadeloupe is also free of any poisonous insect or reptile. So far I only saw very tiny spiders (and harmless) !!!

Barbara1

tarantulas are not poisonous. and they are found in all the Caribbean islands!

Robert59

For those arachnophobics, bless the many lizards crawling around the Caribbean. One researcher studying spiders on Great Abaco Island id'd over 16 different species of spiders. But, the lizards do keep their populations in check. I like those curly tails more and more. Also, we spent much time in the vast coppice forest south of Marsh Harbor, Abaco. I never saw wolf or a tarantula spider in town. If any one ever flew into Abaco from the southern part of the island, they know how vast the coppice forests are. Robert

BermudaObsessed

Barbara, how do you know they are all over the caribbean? Just curious....Also, Puerto Rico does have them, for the person who said they dont..Also, the wolf spider is not a tarantual, but to me, the same as one..Very large..In Nevis the tarantula species in the donkey spider, and antiqua the horse spider..Not sure what kind of tarantula is in bahamas...Ph well, thanks to all, wish i could find a good list of how prevalent they are on each island and the species, but cant seem to find anything...

BermudaObsessed

sorry for all my typos!

BermudaObsessed

ej crowe, Where did you see the wolf spider in Jamaica?? Was it on hotel grounds??

ejcrowe

Spider seen in Jamaica was not on hotel grounds. We stayed at a B&B in Treasure Beach and saw one on a walk one day. It was not out in the open, but nearly hidden with greenery & shrubbery. If we hadn't paused on our walk right where we were, we would never have seen it.

If I had your fear, I would pick a resort on a more arid island. Maybe Aruba, maybe Anguilla, maybe Provo.

Barbara1

Bermuda
I live in the Caribbean and have traveled to most of the islands. As far as I know, they are all over the Caribbean. I work with our local zoo and we have soem local tarantulas on display.

There are hundreds of tarantula species found in most of the world's tropical, subtropical, and arid regions.

BermudaObsessed

Barbara and EJ Crowe, Thanks! Barbara , in your experience are there any islands that you would be least likely to see them on hotel grounds? In Aruba, it seemed so built up where we were, and we never saw any..Also, in Jamaica we never saw any..But Ive read many reviews of people seeing them everywhere like in DR, Cuba, St Lucia, and Antigua, and of course Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico, and AZ...Antigua's main website shows pictures, and informs travelers right away..Other islands, show no evidence at all when I do some research..Many people are also very surprised when they here they are around..Oh well, I wish I could get over my fear...My fear is that they will end up on hotel grounds, and that would be devastating to me...They are my only fear, unfortunately

cw

I have not seen any in St. Kitts, Nevis, or Cuba. I think the likelihood of your seeing them around your hotel,would depend on how aggressive the hotel is about spraying for "pests." And that is a whole other subject.

CW

BermudaObsessed

CW, I totally agree..I would think if Im at a five star resort, that would be a very high concern on their list..My mom went to Antigua, (and her fear is worse then mine, if thats possible)and had no problems..Then again we were both uninformed at that time of their high prevalence there..Oh well, I guess I have to try and get over this because there are so many other islands I still want to go to , and so many great resorts!

cw

Bermuda:

I think your instincts are right. Just go. It'll be alright. Don't let it keep you away from where you want to go.

That's the price we pay for staying in warm tropical places!

CW

mahobaygirl

In reference to the "no poisionous creatures in PR", we met a couple who have a home in Esperanza, Vieques and the mom was telling me about a tarantula that was on their back patio.

Now, there is another creature that I wonder about. The Puerto Rican Boaconstrictor. I thought they were endangered. Then a friend who went to the rainforest while on a cruise stop in San Juan, said they are in the trees there.
Okay, I do not need to go to the rainforest!!
Then, I read some months ago, in the Vieques local paper, (they have a section where they put unusual animals that have been spotted, manatees, dolphins, etc)
someone spotted a PR boa on the East end of the island.(the east end is closed to the public, probably forever, due to leftover ordinance(sp) from the Navy.
In fact, I am off to google them now...