Field trip with Marion Schlinger and Nikki Evans
Fall is mating season for tarantulas here in the Santa Ynez Valley, and it is the best time to observe these amazing spiders. Join Marion and Nikki as we unravel the mystery of the male tarantulas (Aphonopelma ssp.) that wander about our roads, yards, and fields. It is the males that wander in search of females. Of the ten species of tarantula in California, at least three are located at Sedgwick Reserve.
During this program, we will walk no more than a mile on level ground as we search for tarantulas. We will examine a tarantula or two up close and search for their burrows out in the fields. We will also address their biology, distribution, defenses, identifying characteristics, and their predators. Those who wish to, may have the chance to handle a tarantula. Perhaps we will even catch a glimpse of a tarantula hawk, a large wasp that preys on tarantulas. In any case, you are sure to come away with an appreciation for these fascinating creatures who make the Santa Ynez Valley their home.
Marion Schlinger is a naturalist/entomologist and loves being out in nature enjoying the plants, birds and critters, including insects, that she finds either in her garden or on long walks with her labrador, Max. She also had a ‘pet’ tarantula named Knucklehead in graduate school.
Nikki Evans received her PhD in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is currently Outreach and Communications Specialist at Sedgwick Reserve. She fell in love with tarantulas during her first fall at Sedgwick, seeing dozens of tarantulas wandering the Reserve looking for love. She promptly fell down a rabbit hole learning everything she could about them. Nikki loves birding, botanizing, photographing wildlife, and sharing nature with her two-year-old daughter.
How to Register
Event date: Thursday, October 16, 2025, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Participation is limited to 20.
Advance registration is required for this field trip and will open at 9:00 a.m. on September 20 for members and on October 4 for nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805-693-5683.
Members $15 / Nonmembers $30 / Children $5
Directions and meet-up location will be emailed to registered participants.
