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Many terrifying creatures can enter our homes, from copper-headed snakes has hordes of mice . Many of us are also aware of seeing spiders in our spaces. But there's a major difference between seeing a harmless grandpa or small common house spider and spotting a large, hairy creature crawling around. Unfortunately, this is exactly what you are most likely to encounter right now. Read on to find out why sightings of tarantulas in homes are on the rise.

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If you come face to face with a big, hairy spider these days, you're not alone. People all over social media have spoken out about recent sightings of tarantulas around their homes.

"I just saw a GIANT tarantula (or similar sort of spider) in my driveway, so now I have to burn my house down. Or move out. Probably both," one person wrote in a statement. Article from August 27 on X.

In a August 17 Reddit Post , user @immortalbob shared an equally disturbing discovery at their northern Arizona residence. "A tarantula that crawled near my house this morning," they wrote, sharing a video of the spider crawling near a wall.

Some even spotted the creepy creature inside . In a Article from August 10 , another Reddit user posted several photos of a tarantula that had snuck into their home in Ventura County, California. "I found cold on the kitchen floor," user @califorlondon wrote.

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Experts say there's actually a reason why sightings of tarantulas in homes are currently on the rise. These spiders are more visible during their mating season, which occurs "from August to September and early October", Daren Riedle , the wildlife diversity coordinator for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, said The Wichita Eagle . ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Matt Thomas , CEO of Pet Kingdom in San Diego, Calif., confirmed local station KPBS that this is also happening in other parts of the country. “Males are just looking for love,” Thomas explained. “They are trying to breed and find females… This year has been a bit busier than previous years.”

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While male tarantulas search for females during mating season, they often end up in garages or homes, Thomas says. "My neighbors on the Nextdoor app, everybody's freaking out. [They're] in their kitchen and we're going to kick them out," he told KPBS.

adult tarantulas average around five inches long and their leg spans can reach up to 11 inches when spread out, according to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Given their size, "it's natural to be afraid of them," the San Diego County Ranger said. Nate Pownell says local NBC7 media . "It's not every day that you come into contact with a tarantula, but just know that as long as you stay calm and give it space, it will leave you alone."

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Tarantulas are a poisonous species. But their venom is not “poisonous enough to pose a threat to humans,” according to the NWF. At the same time, this species of spider tends to be "very docile [and] not harmful to humans," Pownell told NBC7.

"Although all tarantulas have venom and can bite, it is very rare that they do. They will only do so if they feel threatened," he explained.

Thomas also told KPBS that it's not too worrying if they hit you. "If you're bitten by one, it's just - you'll have some local swelling - maybe a little redness but that's it. Nothing to worry about," he added.

So what should you do if you find a tarantula wandering around your home? Thomas said it was "not really necessary to kill him". Instead, you should just push it forward. "If they're in your house, just give them a gentle little push out," Pownell told NBC7, suggesting homeowners use a piece of paper or cardboard to do this. "It really has nothing to do with you; you don't want anything to do with it."