The Tales of Huckleberry Hound: Season 3

11. Ha, Ha, Ha!

One morning, Huckleberry Hound and his friends decided to go to the zoo to see a brand new bug exhibit that had just opened. The local newspaper claimed that there were all sorts of newly-discovered insects and arachnids that were to be featured in the exhibit, and so Huck's curiosity was sparked. That morning, after he'd gobbled down some Corn Flakes for breakfast, he met up with the gang in town, and they set off for the zoo to take a look.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm feeling a case of the creepy-crawlies creeping up my back!" Hokey Wolf shivered. "Ooooh...bugs give me the willies!"

"Shee! Like, me too!" Mr. Jinks groaned. "I have enough trouble with spiders in my own house!"

"Spiders are very helpful though, Jinksey!" Huck pointed out. "I've got a few of them little critters in my garden and they eat the aphids and other pests that try to tear up my vegetables!"

"In fact, some bugs are actually kinda cute!" Pixie added. "Don't you just love ladybugs?"

"Yeah!" Dixie replied. "All those adorable little spots!"

"Ladybugs are real cute!" Huck smiled. "And I really love butterflies too! All those pretty colors on their wings...they're some of the most beautiful critters on earth!"

They soon reached the zoo, and immediately went to where the new bug exhibit was. Inside, there were not only caterpillars, butterflies, ladybugs, and dragonflies, but there was also a giant centipede inching around inside a terrarium. The gang all looked horrified by the creature, but Huck rubbed his chin and stopped to read the sign next to its enclosure.

"Giant desert centipede," he read. "Member of the family chi-lo...er...chierlo-poda...whatever that means. These creatures are more closely related to shrimp, lobsters and crabs, though not crustaceans themselves. They can grow as long as eight inches, and feed on insects, many of which are considered pests to humans." He smiled. "Man, he might look a little creepy, but he sounds real useful!"

"Easy for you to say!" Jinks replied. "But what about....AAAAAAH!!"

He turned to look at a terrarium with a huge tarantula.

"Jinks, it's in a terrarium!" Huck told the cat. "It's not gonna get you!"

"But...but...it's a big hairy spider!" Jinks gasped, shaking.

"Shucks, it don't look that scary," Huck chuckled. "In fact, this is one of the nicest-looking spiders I've ever seen!"

"Huck, what do you mean?"

"You see, I used to be afraid of spiders too! But then I realized how useful they really are! I now realize that so long as I don't bother them, I ain't got nothing to worry about!"

"But...but...this spider...it's so big!" Jinks stuttered.

"Brachypelma Klaasi," a boy with glasses standing nearby told them. "More commonly known as the Mexican Pink Rose Tarantula. It's actually a very docile species. In fact, some people are even keeping them as pets."

"WHAT!?" Jinks cried.

"I didn't know you could have a tarantula for a pet!" Huck exclaimed.

"It's a fairly new part of the animal domestication world," the boy said. "I personally think I would like to keep one for myself one day. And anyway, arachnids are very helpful animals, as you said before, Mr. Hound. They are a vital part of the earth's natural ecosystems. And they're quite adaptable, save for colder climates. We should not fear spiders as much as we do, but rather respect and appreciate them. They only bite when provoked, which is what any small animal would do to defend itself from danger."