Tonight we spent our time taking a night tour of the forest. Our expectations on finding some fascinating creatures were in high demand. The creature to be spotted was a raccoon family rustling about in the leaves. Trish (our wonderful professor) had some concern about the well-being of everyone in the presence of the wild animal. However, our tour guide made it quite clear that the wild raccoons in Costa Rica have been eradicated of rabies and other diseases. Raccoon babies were even friendly enough to come within two feet or so of our group. During the night tour, our tour guide stumbled upon a creature just beyond the clearance of its home. He immediately told the group to remain stationary or to move in closer at a slow pace. When the group approached the, we spotted a tarantula. Tarantulas can feel the vibrations of our movement, and will run from its predator (us) when it senses that we are much larger than its usual prey. While the tour progressed onward, we could only find two more creatures. The first was a daddy long legged spider and the second was a gecko. Many people have a misinterpretation of the daddy long legged spider. As the myth goes, one may assume that the spider is venomous and can kill a human if ever bitten by the spider. This statement, as told by our guide, is entirely false. Daddy long legged spiders use their fangs to crush their prey whole and their fangs do not have a drop of venom in them. Finally, I would just like to add that this was a worthwhile experience that I would encourage everyone to take a part in at least once in their lifetime.
Jared Poist
Leave a comment