--- a/photutils/datasets/load.py	2026-10-14 06:45:47.935285000 +0800
+++ b/photutils/datasets/load.py	2026-10-14 12:00:12.239540413 +0800
@@ -153,8 +153,12 @@
     hdu : `~astropy.io.fits.ImageHDU`
         The 4.5 micron Spitzer image in a FITS image HDU.
     """
-    path = _get_path('spitzer_example_image.fits', location='remote',
-                     show_progress=show_progress)
+    try:
+        path = _get_path('spitzer_example_image.fits', location='remote',
+                         show_progress=show_progress)
+    except (URLError, HTTPError):   # timeout or not found
+        path = _get_path('spitzer_example_image.fits', location='local',
+                         show_progress=show_progress)
     return _load_fits_as_imagehdu(path)
 
 
@@ -178,8 +182,12 @@
         The catalog of sources, with Galactic coordinates, 4.5 micron
         fluxes, and magnitudes in the four IRAC channels.
     """
-    path = _get_path('spitzer_example_catalog.xml', location='remote',
-                     show_progress=show_progress)
+    try:
+        path = _get_path('spitzer_example_catalog.xml', location='remote',
+                         show_progress=show_progress)
+    except Exception:   # timeout or not found
+        path = _get_path('spitzer_example_catalog.xml', location='local',
+                         show_progress=show_progress)
     return Table.read(path)
 
 
@@ -220,7 +228,10 @@
         raise ValueError(msg)
 
     filepath = f'irac_ch{channel}_flight.fits'
-    path = _get_path(filepath, location='remote', show_progress=show_progress)
+    try:
+        path = _get_path(filepath, location='remote', show_progress=show_progress)
+    except Exception:   # timeout or not found
+        path = _get_path(filepath, location='local', show_progress=show_progress)
     return _load_fits_as_imagehdu(path)
 
 
@@ -246,8 +257,12 @@
     hdu : `~astropy.io.fits.ImageHDU`
         The M67 image in a FITS image HDU.
     """
-    path = _get_path('M6707HH.fits', location='remote',
-                     show_progress=show_progress)
+    try:
+        path = _get_path('M6707HH.fits', location='remote',
+                         show_progress=show_progress)
+    except Exception:   # timeout or not found
+        path = _get_path('M6707HH.fits', location='local',
+                         show_progress=show_progress)
     return _load_fits_as_imagehdu(path)
 
 
@@ -269,7 +284,12 @@
     hdu : `~astropy.io.fits.ImageHDU`
         A FITS image HDU containing the simulated HST star image.
     """
-    path = _get_path('hst_wfc3ir_f160w_simulated_starfield.fits',
-                     location='photutils-datasets',
-                     show_progress=show_progress)
+    try:
+        path = _get_path('hst_wfc3ir_f160w_simulated_starfield.fits',
+                         location='photutils-datasets',
+                         show_progress=show_progress)
+    except Exception:   # timeout or not found
+        path = _get_path('hst_wfc3ir_f160w_simulated_starfield.fits',
+                         location='local',
+                         show_progress=show_progress)
     return _load_fits_as_imagehdu(path)