Places to find Ts in SoCal or San Diego?

[AnimalNewbie]

Hi I live here in So cal and after flipping rocks one day and finding what I believe to be a sub-adult T about 3 inches leg span. I've been wondering if anyone would know the species that reside in So Cal and possibly an area to find some.Thanks for your time!!!

 

[jmarrob]

There are quite few tarantulas in California. My favorite being the California Ebony, I have seen this tarantula hiking in San Diego. I work in San Diego and LA quite a bit and try to go hiking a few times year while I am there. Outside of San Diego any number of the hiking places and state parks you have a good chance of finding a tarantula if you look. If you go during the fall, you are more likely to find a tarantula since they are more likely to be out of their burrows looking for a female. Since tarantulas of California are burrowers, you will likely see their burrows under rocks or in crevices and the burrows ( some) will have webbing around the opening. I don't particularly like to stick something down in a hole to see if a spider comes out if I don't know whats down there to start with. You may find something you don't want to find. I also worry that the tarantula is molting or has a sac with them.
When I am visiting somewhere new I use https://www.inaturalist.org to locate where others have found wildlife including tarantulas. Its a great site to document findings and research others findings.

 

[AnimalNewbie]

Thanks for the reply!!
Yeah, I found a subadult lasting Elfin Forest under a rock with its burrow. The second I lift up the road close it bolted. It was darkish blackish/grayish color and was about 3 1/2.