- I'm Coyote Petersen and I'm about to free handle
a giant desert centipede.
(wild music)
Exploring the desert under the cover of night
is often the best way to come across animals.
And we have had a lot of luck filming the majority
of our Sonoran Desert episodes in this fashion
including an episode in Breaking Trails season one,
which was titled The Giant Desert Centipede
is a Living Nightmare.
They are fast.
They are powerful.
And they have a venomous bite that is said
to be one of the most painful experiences
you could ever imagine.
Whenever I walk the nighttime desert,
I hope to avoid these elusive predators.
However, our wildlife biologist,
who has absolutely no fear of centipedes,
managed to find and capture one.
Bad news for me, but good news for you,
as this capture will allow me to face my fears
when it comes to free handling a giant desert centipede.
For me this is super crazy and super creepy,
but what I'm gonna try to do right now
is gently pin this centipede's head
so that I can pick it up and get it close to the cameras.
(exhale)
Okay, I think I'm ready for this.
Let the nightmare begin, and bring in the centipede.
(eerie music)
There we go.
All right.
I've got his head gently pinned here.
Holy mackerel.
That requires more nerve than you can possibly imagine.
And there it is.
Oh, my hands are shakin'.
That is free handling the giant desert centipede.
Oh my gosh is it strong.
Every single one of these pairs of legs
has a little hook on it and they're digging into my fingers
right now.
Oh, wow.
I never thought that in a million years
I'd be free handling a giant desert centipede.
- [Voiceover] You're shaking dude.
- Oh, I am definitely shaking.
I don't particularly care for scorpions
or solifugids, but nothing gets my heart racing
faster than a giant desert centipede.
Now I know someone who has been bitten
by one of these creepy crawlies
and they told me it was the worst pain
that they had ever felt.
I was bitten by a Gila monster on this trip
and it was pretty bad.
I don't think I want to end the trip
by being bitten by the giant desert centipede.
(exhales)
Okay, now this is a voracious predator.
They will go after pretty much anything here in the desert.
A centipede of this size can take lizards.
It can take small snakes.
They will eat baby birds.
And can even take things as large as rodents.
Now you see each one of these little segments
on this centipede's back is like armor plating.
Don't worry, I'm not hurting this centipede
in any way whatsoever.
This is one of the toughest creatures that we have
on the planet, and I'm doing everything I can right now
to just keep him under control
and keep those fangs away from my fingers.
Now what's really interesting about the giant
desert centipede, is it has a psuedo-head at its rear.
Look at that.
Those last three segments are dark, just like the head,
and the two rear appendages, which are nothing more
than modified legs, look just like its antennae.
So if something comes in and tries to attack
this creature, and goes for the back end,
it's able to grip with those modified feet
and then it can swing around and give
whatever's attacking it one nasty bite.
Wow, that was pretty crazy.
Free handling the giant desert centipede,
something I never thought I'd be able
to build up the courage to do.
Now that he's in my hands and pretty calmed down
I truly have a new appreciation
for one of the creepiest crawlies
out here in the Sonora Desert.
I'm Coyote Peterson.
Be brave.
Stay wild.
We'll see ya on the next adventure.
All right, I'm gonna let him here down on this log
and we're gonna get out of the Sonora Desert.
Ready?
I'm sure many of you were hoping I would be bitten
by this desert predator.
Sorry guys.
That's one painful experience that I don't think
any of us would ever want to go through.
However, on a lighter note, they are incredibly elusive
and your chances of every running into
one of these walking nightmares is next to none.
If you think the giant desert centipede
made your skin crawl, check out the time
I encountered the solifugid.
And don't forget, subscribe, to join me and the crew
on this season of Breaking Trail.
Oh my gosh.
His little mandibles are razor-sharp.
Ow!