SAN DIEGO -- 14-year-old Caitlin Carr, of Tierrasanta, has adopted "spike", one of our common black tarantulas, as a pet.

When she first spotted the spider inside her home, she says she wasn't afraid. "I was wondering if we could find a cage for it and keep it. I was wondering if my mom would let me", Carr said. When asked what her mom said, Carr replied, "she just screamed and ran away."

Right now, Spike and lots of other male tarantulas are swarming over San Diego County which seems like an invasion to people who fear spiders.

At San Diego County Agriculture, lab worker April Diosa has no fear of "Spidey," the Chilean Rosehair spider, because she knows that tarantulas are normally docile.

County Entomologist Dr. David Kellum says tarantulas rarely bite and their venom is no stronger than a bee sting.

But, he's getting lots of worried calls now from people reporting multiple tarantula sightings. Kellum says there's nothing to be worried about.

"No, it's not (an invasion). It's mating season and so the males are out there looking for mates so you're going to see a lot more tarantulas around this time of year simply because it's there time."

 Copyright: KTLA News