Shuttle Buses This Year At Tarantula Run

Shuttle buses will be used this year to move runners to the Kellogg Creek Picnic Area, the start-finish area for the Los Vaqueros Tarantula Run.

Runners will park their cars at the Walnut Staging Area, which is right next to the entrance gate at Los Vaqueros.

Then the runners will board the buses for the short five-minute ride to Kellogg Creek.

We'll have two buses, so waits will be short (at least that's our goal). Runners can also walk or run to Kellogg Creek. The buses will be running from 6 a.m. to noon.

We'll have Tarantula Run "sweats bags" for all the runners, and a place for the runners to check-in and check-out their bags. That way, runners can bring their sweats and snacks, etc. and store them at Kellogg Creek without having to run back to their cars.

As a bonus, the runners can keep the bags!

Why the change? To protect the threatened California tiger salamander, which lives in Los Vaqueros. The salamanders spend a great deal of their lives in burrows and holes dug by squirrels and other animals.

At the old parking area, we believe there are now a few California tiger salamanders, so turning their homes into a temporary parking lot is no longer a good idea.

We hope our runners understand why the change has been made, and give themselves a few extra minutes to get to the run.

Our large sweat bags are made of jute, are very strong and completely recyclable. Of course, they have a "Tarantula Run" logo on them.

TARANTULAS SPOTTED AT LOS VAQUEROS!

It seems a little early, but we're starting to see tarantulas scurrying around at Los Vaqueros. Our staff at the Marina has seen them on the roads and near the reservoir.

Though they're big and hairy, a tarantula won't hurt you. So, if you see one, take a good look, take a picture, and please leave it alone!

Usually the males are the ones you spot wandering around, and they're looking for females. It's sometimes a case of "Fatal Attraction" as the female will often kill the male after they mate.

So, please don't interfere with this ancient mating rite.