Prospective Resident re: scorpions - scorpions

I've seen a similar question on here about these critters. I live in Virginia and am seriously considering moving to Tucson.

My hang-up....maybe even a phobia...are scorpions. Oh, not outdoors, but inside. I've done a lot of reading via the internet but it hasn't made me feel much better. The thought of these trespassers, inside, at night, is not a comforting one. I've read the bark scorpion (naturally, the poisonous one in AZ) is the most likely to seek an inside living arrangement.

Then I read that the antivenin, made from goats, is no longer manufactured and there are only 100 doses remaining. A new antivenin is under drug trial (which has a less allergic reaction) but won't likely be available for a year. I am a little concerned about this as I have HIV and hence a compromised immune system.

Lastly...I have a cat I would bring with me. I've read cats are thought to be immune to the bark scorpion sting. I asked an employee at the fascinating Sonora Desert Musuem during my recent 'look see' in Tucson about how a scorpion and cat might interact (eg. would the cat try to fiddle with it or have the intuition to avoid it?) The employee thought the cat would kill the scorpion, and that due to the cat's thicker hide and fur (compared to a human,) the scorpion probably couldn't land a successful sting.

Would anyone with a pet cat in AZ be kind enough to share any experience relating to the above? I don't want my cat killed by a scorpion, if that would in fact be likely.

As for myself...I'm trying to work through my fear of this creature...however one goes about that.

Many thanks to anyone who can take a few minutes to reply:)

Gary Manassas VA

Gary,

My hang-up....maybe even a phobia...are scorpions. Oh, not outdoors, but inside.

This depends on the area that you live in. I live in a suburb of Phoenix, and have never lived in Tucson. But the same rules apply. If you're more inner-city, you're less likely to find wildlife, including scorpions. However, if you live on the outskirts, you're more likely. I've lived in various places around Phoenix my entire life, and have never found a scorpion indoors. I know a few people that have, and there are usually particular areas that have these kinds of issues. You can generally find this out from the neighbors.

Lastly...I have a cat I would bring with me. I've read cats are thought to be immune to the bark scorpion sting.

I don't think this is true, and I wouldn't rely on it.

I asked an employee at the fascinating Sonora Desert Musuem during my recent 'look see' in Tucson about how a scorpion and cat might interact (eg. would the cat try to fiddle with it or have the intuition to avoid it?)?

I think the cat would play around with it, and then ultimately kill it.. I've noticed that's what cats tend to do with insects that they find around the house.

and that due to the cat's thicker hide and fur (compared to a human,) the scorpion probably couldn't land a successful sting.

This is true.. it will be more difficult for the scorpion to sting with the cat's thick fur.

I don't want my cat killed by a scorpion, if that would in fact be likely.

While it's very unlikely to receive a scorpion sting, they can be painful and cause damage similar to a bee sting.

As for myself...I'm trying to work through my fear of this creature...however one goes about that.

The main reason to not be afraid is that it is so unlikely.

Thanks, NickCoons, for taking time to reply! It was both pragmatic and useful. A first-hand account such as yours can't be obtained by reading internet articles.

I just have to work on my apprehensions. No need for me to make a decision prior to fall anyway, since airlines will not accept pets for cargo shipment until after Sept. 15, and, when temperatures at arrival and departure points are <85 (or <75...it's ambiguous the way they word the regulations.)

In any event, at the end of the day, so to say...I would hope I wouldn't let this scoprion thing derail me!

Gary Manassas VA

Please, friends, do not put your dog or your cat or any pet in airline cargo. I have heard many terrible stories about that. I am moving with to Tucson with my most precious cat, driving a car. Hope you will too! Read: The New Natural Cat, by Anitra Fraiser.

Scorpions scare me too! But several long time residents of Tucson with cats assure me that "Cats know what to do if they see a scorpion," but that in the central part of Tucson you don't see them in houses.

Other friends who live in wilder areas say that when they employ a montly exterminator they have no scorpion problems, even living out in the desert. Another fellow I know lives on an acre of wild desert and does not exterminate; he said his kitten was bitten on the nose by a scorpion but had no problems. I was encouraged by this. So maybe it's true when they say, "it's like a bee sting." I sure hope so.

Thanks for the scorpion feedback, Photobelle. I realized (or remembered) the other day...when something is, uh..."bugging" me over some period of time...my pattern is that I finally get tired of thinking about it. I'm not sure that will occur with this one, but my concerns should diminish.

I wish I didn't have to ship my cat via cargo on a plane...but there's no other choice. She can't be taken in the cabin unless her and her carrier can fit under the seat in front. That seems to rule out anything larger than a squirrel! At least there is one flight, on one airline, which doesn't require a plane change...just a stop. Hence she can't go astray at the intermediate city by being put on the wrong plane or such.

Gary Manassas VA

My dearest Gary,

As a New Yorker, an animal lover and a scorpion hater having to deal with Arizona, let me sympahthize with your plight. OK...lets roll...

1. you are afraid of the bark (and other scorpions) Rightfully so. But knowledge is power, and a couple of different kinds of scorpions (not just bark) go into houses.

remedy: for any property you are considering living in, have a professional pest control business assess your home, at night with a black light. This way, they can ascertain how much of a problem you have since the scorpions can flouresce under black light.

2. Your cat: My first encounter with a scorpion was with my boyfriend's big fat orange tabby cat, which pounced on and caught a scorpion in its teeth while I watched terrified from the couch. Yes, cats know how to catch prey. They can die from bark scorpion bites, so take them to the vet ASAP if they are stung. The tabby cat was not stung and I eventually killed said scorpion after getting it out of the cat's mouth with a lure of Star Kist tuna.

3. Your HIV status: this means you must protect yourself from the bark scorpion. You also must be careful with the lesser bites of others. Professional pest control will kill the critters and ease your mind. Make sure dusting and spraying are done after sunset.

Good luck and health J

Hi There J,

Thanks for taking time to reply to my earlier post!

My concerns not withstanding, last week I finally made the decision to move to Tucson. I definitely am going to have a pest control outfit case the apartment, as they will secure any cracks or openings which would permit the offenders' entry. Ergo, if they can't get in, and there are none already in, there ought not to be any in the future (striving to think rationally here!)

Of course I will be prudent and not walk about inside in the dark, check my shoes in the morning, etc. Hopefully those cautionary aspects will prove to be more distracting than ever experiencing an actual "sighting."

Since I won't move until October, when the ground temperatures allow cat shipment on the airlines, the scorpions will probably be less active in those temperatures anyway, allowing me time to adjust before the next summer rolls around.

Well wish me luck...actually I'm not really neurotic...well maybe just a tad:)

Gary Manassas VA

I just saw your message about cats and scorpions. I live in Tucson - Oro Valley actually - and while looking up cats and scorpions (becase I just found a dead scorpion in my house) saw your posting. I can only assume one of my cats killed it. This is the second time I have found one dead. Both cats seem fine so I really don't know if they don't get harmed by the bite or if its the fur and the way they handle it. These dead ones are the only ones I have seen but they seem to indicate that they are about.

snip

Gary,

I have lived in Tucson for 16 years, and I have had cats the entire time. I never even saw a scorpion in my house until I moved to the southeast part of Tucson almost two years ago. Since then, I have found four live scorpions in my house.

I was told that scorpions tend to appear in areas where there is ongoing construction. Several new subdivisions and shopping centers are being constructed in my area, so that could be the cause.

At any rate, the first scorpion we found stung my then 9-year old daughter as she was getting into bed. I called the poison control center, and they said that she should feel a little pain and numbness for a while, and that should be the extent of her suffering. We didn't even need to take her to the hospital unless she developed complications. Sure enough, she was fine except for a little pain and numbness.

Two of our scorpions were found by my 1-year old orange tabby, who has a heart condition. I killed and disposed of the scorpions before she had the chance, but in neither case did she seem to suffer from her brief contact with them.

All four of our scorpions were found in the evening and early morning hours, and they occured between the months of February and September. I do spray the perimeter of my house for bugs, but evidently, not often enough!

By the way, if you are looking for a good veterinarian for your cat when you get to Tucson, I recommend the Cat Hospital of Tucson or Feline Limited Cat Clinic. I have had great experiences with the vets at both places.

Good luck with everything!

I share some of these same fearful fears over the scorpions. Reading this thread before I moved made me feel better as we finally decided to live in town instead of somewhere out like Queen Creek.

Even so, being here in a single-family home near the Gilbert/Mesa line for less than 2 wks, we saw our first scorpion yesterday. Son found it in the garage on a closet door he was cleaning -- it had just molted as its 'skeleton' could clearly be seen a few inches away. Thank goodness he decided to clean it there (where the former residents had left it) before bringing it to his room.

I admit I felt quite uneasy yesterday, and on extra-alertness today. Hopefully, we'll stay on top of the pest-control. And like dh says, we'll learn not to go outside barefoot, well, at least not in the dark. ;)

"fearful concerns" -- that's what I meant to say

For the record, it does appear that there has been alot of nearby road construction (within a block) and large land clearings (within a couple of blocks).

Hi Gary20110

Please, please don't put your cat under the plane - I travel with my 13 lb. Maine coon every six months or so and she sits in the cabin at my feet. We've been on Delta, American Airlines and United Express.

You can get the "large" Sherpa carryon - or something similar - to put your kitty in. I have no problems with the airlines, and, on longer flights, if no one is sitting next to me, I put the carrier on the seat next to me.

It's about $80 each way, so you will need to purchase a ticket for your cat.

I hope this helps.

Also, I've been considering a move to Phoenix and came across a site called apartmentratings.com and people were talking about the scorpions on the "bottom floor" of one of the Scottsdale apts. It scares the heck out of me. My cat is 10 years old and I don't want any entanglement with these awful bugs.

Good luck on your move.

Hi Jackie,

What I had learned...is airlines require a pet who will be in the cabin to be able to fit under the seat (in front of the passenger) in its carrier, and be able to freely move about therein. That would seem to rule out anything larger than a squirrel! So I wonder what I'm missing here...if you are able to have your cat sit at your feet in the cabin? I guess you checked this out prior to your flying...who did you contact which okay'd it? Thanks for the information. All of this seems to become quite complex!

Gary Manassas, VA

Another scorpion! And it was on me... I've now heard several people who've been here all their lives and never seen one in their homes, I don't get it.

I've now heard several people who've been here all their lives and never seen one in their homes, I don't get it.

I would be one of those. I was born here, and I've only seen them encased in plastic in tourist traps. Where did you end up moving?

We found a home in Mesa, near the Gilbert line. This home is 12 yrs old, and the others in the area seem at least the same age. I know construction can sometimes drive critters away, and I see that they've just cleared a very large area of land about a 1/4 mile away. Wonder if that could be why we're seeing them.

That's a very strong possibility.

Gary and Others,

I have recently moved to Vail (just outside Tucson in the southeast) 2 weeks ago. There is construction all around my home.

Tonight I found a live scorpion and it freaked the crap out of me. I have a wonderful cat and immediately worried about her. Also my mattress is on the ground in the bedroom while I wait for my furniture to be delivered and now I'm freaked to sleep in there.

Does anyone know the best idea for extermination or for a good company? I plan to call tomorrow.

In the mid and late 1800s when this area was being settled, people would put each of their bedposts in a bucket of water. This prevented any creepy-crawlies from being able to climb up on to the bed.

I don't live in the Tucson area, so I can't recommend any particular business from experience.

I'm not a scorpion expert, so this may or may not be a good idea. But you could try placing a small amount of food (like a couple of bacon bits) in your bedroom as far from your bed as possible. This way, anything that might happen to come stumbling across your room would hopefully be lured away from your bed. But a small enough amount of food shouldn't attract anything into your bedroom that wasn't there anyway.

Andreab777...

That would freak me out too. I have researched extermination companies on the internet and Arizona Pest Control in Tucson seems to offer a very comprehensive program. Among other things, they will insure there are no openings in your house through which the trespassing scorpions can enter (pipe or plumbing portals, loose screens, cracks, etc.) I plan to call them today to have my condo done before I move there in six weeks. Apparently all it takes is an opening the width of a credit card to allow entry. Their number is 520-275-5014. I hope this helps, and let us know of your experience with them please.

Gary Manassas VA

Hi all!! I found this by doing a search on Google on cat and scorpion. I did this because we just moved to Cochise County in South Eastern Arizona, and we have found a few scorpions. I am used to scorpions, but my main concern was our house cat. She is from Mississippi, and there were no scorpions there. This morning I woke up to find a half dead and slightly mangle scorpion in our bathroom, and I thought that she might have done it, and then I was pretty convinced of it when I found her in the bathroom looking at it again, as I had not disposed of it yet. It was a pretty good sized one, and she seems to be ok.

I saw on discovery channel (or something) a cat fighting a scorpion, and the cat toyed with it, pawing it many times, easily killing the scorpion.

Hello all. I am "terrified in Toledo", the crazy lady who wrote back in May about my fear of tarantulas. I have lived in Tucson now for four months, on the outskirts of town (Ventana Canyon to be exact), and have seen one scorpion and it was a small one, dead on the floor the day we moved in. Of course, this was not a warm welcome, but I haven't seen one since and I'm thinking that the one was brought in with the new carpeting that went down. Who knows. Needless to say, my two cats were extremely interested in it, so I asked my veteranarian the exact same questions. I was told that it was highly unlikely for a cat to die from a scorpion sting, if it ever happened at all. He said that their fur is thick, as well as their paw pads and nose and a sting would be unlikely. He also said that it was possible for my dog to get stung on the nose while outside, but the worst that would happen would be a swollen nose.

I have a wonderful exterminator (Orkin) who emphasized the importance of sealing up cracks and door sweeps in order to prevent scorpions from entering the home (I guess they can feel the nice cool air coming from under the door). We have sealed everything up and haven't had one problem.

Good luck and enjoy Tucson. It's a beautiful city with a lot to offer!

The probability of coming across a scorpion in the more rocky or hilly area of Tucson or Phoenix is fairly high. We've been in North Scottsdale for 6 years now and have 2-3 in the house each year. We consider ourselves lucky with two small kids and pets as it's not uncommon to have many more. The liklihood of being stung is smaller with a cat around. They are pretty well known to be natural hunters of these critters. Folks who have been around for a while just know that sooner or later they'll cross paths with scorpions. Unless there is a reason to be concerned about an allergy to a potential sting, you'll learn to co-exist without fear.

I lived in a home in Mesa that had TONS of scorps. I was bitten twice, but I got over it. Its not too bad for an adult. I learned that scorps in the city mostly come from nest underground from orange groves. When these groves are cleared for new homes, out come the scorps. I got 3 chickens (hens). They eat scorps like candy! and you get the eggs too! I had less scorps in the house after the chickens ate them from the outside of the house, yard... I hike all over the desert, almost every weekend, and have never been biten out in the desert.

People looking to move to Arizona seem to be extremely worried about Scorpions and taking all sorts of measures to prevent them coming into your house. I've lived here my whole life, and I've never seen a scorpion (outside of captivity, that is).

There are scorpions here, in some areas more than others. But it really isn't nearly as bad as most people might think.

I'm the guy [Gary20110] who was moving from Virginia to Tucson last fall...and stressin' out over the scorpion thing.

Well...I've been here since October...and happy to say I've become complacent about the subject now. I've never seen one either outside or in. I do have extermination bi-monthly. The condo is four years old and there are no cracks or openings through which such a trespasser could enter.

I realize we are now coming into the more active season for scorpions and related unwanted critters...so I'll be alert...but they can't be in here if they can't get in here.

I live in the northwest area...hear coyotes yowling at night once in a while...from afar. And apparently there are some javelina around the area though I've never seen them.

So hopefully this might be of interest to anyone else who may be planning a move to this region and has a concern similar to what I had. Just have to watch for rattlesnakes I guess...since they will blend in with their surroundings.

Hi, I've lived in Arizona (Chandler) for 22 years and never had a scorpion in my house until about 3 years ago. They have been building freeways and new homes in our area. Every night my husband goes outside with a blacklight and finds around 3 scorpions. We have had up to ten inside this year . one crawled on my daughters arm, and another one was inside of her backpack she put her hand in it but didn't get stung. I had one on my back at the store and someone told me it was there but no one was willing to get it off. Luckily I brushed it off myself and didn't get stung. So now I am very fidgety any time I feel something tickling my skin. We have been sprayed but I am very leary. I have dogs. Does any one know anything aout scorpions stinging dogs? Thx lj

I have lived in Phoenix since 1984 and have only recently run into a scorpion. I do live on the northwest edge of Phoenix next to the desert. The scorpion was outside on our patio. my wife walked outside and felt it brush against her foot. I took a black light hooked up to an extension cord to find it(I original thought she miss identified the critter). My only point is that over twenty years here and the first one seen. Lived in Rawlins, Wyo for 6 years and saw two of them.

I have lived in arizona in the city for a few years, and I got stung by a bark scorpion, it feels like a very hot thick nail has been jabbed into you and stays like that for hours, my husband the same thing, my older brother as well, although he was allergic and had to go to the hospital, my husband and I were not allergic, but still had to deal with the overwhelming pain.

Gary: I certainly understand your arachnophobia! I, as do you hate the sight of the little critters. The occurance of indoor scorpion infestation mostly has to do with your local topography. Mountainous locations seem to be the worst areas to be in. Other things such as trenching and excavation associated with construction can disturb them, causing them to migrate indoors. I live in a northern suburb of Phoenix (Cave Creek) and can tell you that scorpions are no strangers in my household. We routinely find at least 3-4 per month! Or should I say that Midnite (our 20 lb cat) finds them. He usually plays with them and seems to bite off their tail before eating them. They like to hide behing big screen televisions or other items that give off heat. You can tell when one is in the house as Midnite will staulk it being visually glued to it till he can get at it. Yes, bark scorpions have a particularly venomous sting, but you ain't seen nothin' yet till you've seen the giant desert hairy scorpion! The thing is usually 6-9 inches in length and has the most ugly hairy appearance on it's abdoman. During the spring they cary their young on their backs and it is quite a sight to see dozens of baby scorpions go scurrying about your kitchen floor after you thought that you smashed it with your shoe! All in all, don't worry about it- there is nothing you can really do anyway. They are here to stay. P.S.- a two story home with your bedroom on the upper floor is your best bet, as contrary to most reports they really don't climb as much as they are proported to. Hope this helps.

Anthony

I'm currently a Marylander... but a desert savvy expatriate of Yuma/Fallon. I also own cats. Cats are immune to scorpion stings. DO NOT run around barefoot in the desert. Not even at home. Those old cowboys wore boots for a reason.

Third generation Arizonan.

We were always taught to not put your hand where you can't see, shake out your boots before putting them on, and LISTEN.

I live in N. Central Phoenix, former citrus area, and we have scorpions. Some may have been imported when we moved Dad's stuff in from the desert 30 mi. out of town, as we have two varieties. The only time anyone has been stung is when they reach under stacks of boards that were left undisturbed, and PUT THEIR HANDS WHERE THEIR EYES COULDN'T SEE. Unfortunately, I have also seen them in the house, which is understandable because our dog door is just a loose flap! They usually chase crickets into the house, so if you remove hiding places for scorpions and crickets near the doors, there won't be much of a problem. The Bug Man can't really kill scorpions, but they can eliminate crickets. I usually try to make my backyard friendly for bug eaters. We have lots of geckos, birds, wall lizards, bats, owls, etc. No poisoning the environment in MY yard (exception for termites). The young cat loves to hunt birds, but recently she seems to be eating scorpions, too. You need to know their habits. They come out at night, and in the day, hide in dark places like under rocks and old wood and leaves. My brother is a Dr. and all he would give to someone who has been stung by a scorpion is Valium, because one of the side effects is anxiety. Black widow spiders are also creepy, but not aggressive, and we generally go out at night and stomp them when they are in full view on their webs, and gather egg sacks up and remove to garbage. I only saw one rattle snake upclose, and that was in someone's house in S. Arizona. I was frightened but also very thankful that it had coiled and rattled loudly to warn me. I called my hostess and she got her man to kill it. This was at night, and it was just trying to find a way out of the house. So, remember, even though you don't speak the same language, these critters are just trying to live in their ancient neighborhoods. Lu

I have lived in Arizona for 25 years and never once saw a scorpion until I moved to a new development 3 years ago. It is in Arrowhead Ranch by 75th Ave. and Loop 101. This whole area is INFESTED with bark scorpions. I have already been stung once in the kitchen sink and ended up in the emergency room. I am afraid for my cat, who is not healthy to begin with, that she will get stung. Twice I have caught him nose to nose with one in the kitchen, but killed it for he got stung. I live in fear, I really do, and I hate this house!! I never walk barefoot, I always check the sink, bathtub, shoes, towels, everything. I hate living like this. Does anyone want to buy a house???

I live in Tempe, AZ. I found a scorpion tonight in my apartment, which is on the second floor. I also have a cat and have heard the rumors that they are immune. The first time I found a scorpion in my apt was about 2 months ago. Which makes 2 scorpions in my place in 2 months. My cat actually found the first one and DEFINITELY wanted to play with it. Luckily, I was nearby and got her out of the room before she had the chance to get stung. But she was howling from the other room because she was so pissed she couldn't play with it. So I would be careful. I do not live in the middle of nowhere and have found 2 in 2 months. I'm moving in a month and will be happy to get away from these terifying creatures.

In regards to the scorpions and spiders of Arizona, they are here, but I have lived here for 40 years and have seen one scorpion, two snakes, no tarantulas, a couple of wolf spiders, more black widows than a few, lots of daddy long legs. None in my home, except the daddy long legs. If you keep wood for fireplaces around your home, black widows should be watched for. As a rule, living anywhere is, don't stick your hands into areas you can't see. Bugs like to live there. The main thing you need to give respect to, in the high desert, is the heat. I hate to say this, but Arizona is perfect! We live a very safe life, no earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes. Only the freeways high speeds and crazy drivers as the biggest "natural disasters". In areas that are under a lot of new home construction, you can see snakes and spiders being displaced and ending up on peoples properties. Our fire dept.'s get lots of calls for removals. We are displacing them because we are moving into their areas, but just keep in mind that they are a whole lot more afraid of us! They will try to get away from you, not attack you. Most bites from snakes are to young males who have been drinking. Don't mess with them, either of them for that matter!

The bark scorpion is a common sight in Arizona, but it's sting is NOT life threatening to anything over 20 pounds. (If your baby is stung, take him/her to the hospital. Otherwise, take an aspirin.) Myself and friends of mine have been stung by bark scorpions. The result is discomfort bordering on pain, numbness near the stung area, and a general sick feeling. It only lasts about a day or so. If you're really worried about these things, get a cat, or get several. In the 14 years I've lived in this house, (next to a large span of desert) I've seen literally hundreds of dead scorpions, and only dozens of live ones. I attribute this to my cats, and their love of hunting small critters. I've watched my cats get the scorpions from time to time, and they seem to have no problem whatsoever killing them. If you can't have an animal patrolling your house, then your only recourse is to properlly seal your house, and it will not be perfect. Black lights (ultraviolet) work wonders, and in a dark house scorpions can be VERY easily seen. Even nests can be lightly seen through walls, or in our case, a brick fireplace. Scorpions are in your house looking for a nice temperature, darkness, and water, nothing more. (They seem to be partial to wood. Piles of dry wood are scorpion apartment complexes.) They will only sting you if they feel highly threatened (I.E. you slap at them), or if you are a cricket.

I am looking into moving to Bullhead City Arizona and am concerned about scorpions as well, as I've heard that Bullhead City is scorpion capitol...don't know if that's true? (any advice from residents on scorpion variety, etc?) I have one cat and a raccoon and am worried because the raccoon sticks his hands into everything where he can't see, though at 40 plus pounds, I would imagine a sting wouldn't do much. Why do people use the typical cliches like "scorpions are more afraid of you" etc etc etc, when there is story after story of the little SOB's dropping on top of people and crawling on them? They sound bold and aggressive to be quite honest.

If they crawl up walls and drop on top of you, I think it's just random that they land on you. I don't think scorpions are intelligent enough to construct such a premeditated plan :-).

Does anyone know what would happen to my tiny toy poodles if they should get stung by a bark scorpion? Right now I am living in a condo in Rancho Vistoso and have come across three scorpions in the past three months (one dead, two alive). The poodles weight 5 pounds and 9 pounds. I also have three cats, and am worried that they could suffer severe consequences as well. One of my cats found the third scorpion the other night, but I scooped him up before he had a chance to play with it. My husband got rid of the scorpion, but I really don't want to take a chance regarding cats being immune to scorpion bites. It would be my luck that my cats aren't.

From everything that I've read, unless your dogs are old or frail, a scorpion sting will have no lasting effects. The area stung will swell, and then start to go down within a day or so. I've also never heard of a cat being stung with ill effects, only that they love to play with them. For the most part, the fur is too thick for a scorpion to sting, so it would be difficult for it to happen.

Normally, if a pet gets stung once, that's all the training they'll ever need to know how to deal with the situation in the future.

Regarding scorpions -- I live in Virginia and grew up in a little town where the weekly newspaper had a feature each week on who killed the biggest rattlesnake -- some just counted the number of rattles -- some jtook pictures holding the snake up by the tail -- the all time winner was the man who had to stand on a step ladder to hold his snake so it's head wouldn't touch the ground. Now these people didn't go looking for these snakes! They were found in barns, out buildings, backyards and, yes, in houses. Now, my point is: I have never seen a rattle snake in my life. Of course, they're not going to come looking for me any more than I'm going looking for them. Are scorpions aggressive or do they just get themselves into situations where they can't escape humans? Every place has it's creepy critters. Oh, yeah. Virginia has a lot of black widows, too. I have seen these. One in motel room -- not a good night's sleep afterwards! Oh, and there was the house moccassin I found in my bathroom once in a rental house in the woods. Oh, geez. My skin is starting to crawl talking about this! But I had to put in my two cents --

Would the person who stated that, from what he has read, a scorpion bite to a dog should not be fatal, please list the sources of his reading? I'm trying to put my mind at ease after our 8 year old dog suddenly and unexepctedly died while we were on vacation. We have had a scorpion annoyance (not really a problem) since we moved into our Arrowhead home. We have three cats in the house hoping they will help control the scorpions. Not sure if true or not, but I've heard that cats help keep scorpions under control and have a natural immunity to scorpion venom. I have been worried about the dog and scorpions, but tried not to be paranoid as I see lots of dogs in the neighborhood, even some that seem to be out in people's yards most the time. I guess what I'm hoping is for some reassurance that my choice of a home in which to live didn't doom my dog to an early and untimely death due to a scorpion bite. I have no evidence she was bite, and do not know why she died. But, the scorpion theory was the first thing that came to me because her death was so sudden and preceeded by diahrrea. Thank you.

Gary,

I moved to a suburb of Phoenix 2 years ago from Arkansas. I am still totally freaked out by the alien creatures. We did adopt a cat after we moved here and he has so far killed his fair share of scorpions in turn making him the king of this house in my books. I have heard many different things about cats and scorpions, each one being different. Our cat has never been stung and always is looking for them. I personally believe the reason he does not get stung is because of his thicker hide and fur along with the quickness cats possess and their ability to see so well at night (the scorpions most active time). I believe your cat would not only be safe, but also be your most valuable asset with these nasty weird freaky alien scorpions.

Also, as far as locations....

I have heard many different things and can honestly say from block to block some people have them and some don't. We have fruit trees and them seems to attract the bugs they like, but apparently if you have a larger amount of lizards in your area they will eat the scorpion food source. Also we spray every month and it has not made a difference thus far. They do become less visible in the winter and I have been told they hibernate...so you get a break.

Do be aware however you will not die from the bark scorpion sting, but will be a bit miserable for a few hours. They tend to run at you not away. You can search with a black light and a shoe and kill them first (this makes me feel re-empowerd), and the smaller ones tend to allow more venom just like snakes.

All in all, Arizona is beautiful in my books. No tornadoes, earthquakes, or hurricaines, so I deal.

amy

Here is the way I look at the spiders and scorpion issues, coyotes, mountain lions and bears.

If you move onto their street, by their house (the desert) they get to visit you any time they want.

They were here first.

I have lived in Arizona for 30+ years and not until last night - YES- February 4, I am frightened of a scorpion in my home. I have walked right past rattle snakes, never been frightened! So I say be frightened and use your black lights to see them and get a cat. I would have never know I had a scorpion if I never had a cat.

hello we bought a home in goodyear june 2006 and moved in on the 10th of the month, we started to see scorpions right away and were completly freeked out. we came from out of state and had no idea there was a chance of scorpions in your home. we were in the home 3 weeks when I called it quits. no sleep in those 3 weeks either, I actually slepted in my car, at a hotel and back where we came from, untill we decided that this place wasnt for us. we are currently trying to get our money back because it was not disclosed to us that the home had scorpions. I would recommend the state of arizona require all home sellers to have to disclose the strong fact that you will probably see scorpions. riverratz

I would recommend the state of arizona require all home sellers to have to disclose the strong fact that you will probably see scorpions.

But it's not true. The reason you saw scorpions was because of where your house was. Anytime you're near new construction, the edge of the valley, or natural desert, you're going to run into that. However, the vast majority of Arizona homes do not have scorpions.

I was born here in Phoenix and have lived here my whole life. I do a lot of camping and hiking in this state as well. And other than in captivity (i.e. the zoo), I have never seen a scorpion.

If you don't have luck getting your money back for the house, I'd recommend getting a cat.. they'll take care of the scorpions for you.

I was just reading over some of the postings here and wanted to comment, (even though this is a fairly old thread). For those of you afraid of the critters such as scorpions, tarantulas, widows, etc. I would like to say that if you multiplied your fears times 100, that would probably be a fair estimate of how these critters feel when they encounter humans. Really, the only two creatures that you need worry about is the Black Widow and the Bark Scorpion. They both get a fairly bad rap as far as information goes regarding the strength of their venom. On a healthy adult, the bite (widow) or the sting (bark scorpion), does not typically create a life threatening situation. The good news....these guys would prefer to stay as far away from you as possible. Why you ask?????

1) Any normal size adult shoe is about 100 times larger than the creature.

2) You can eradicate them with bug spray from a safe distance - they, (if they were truly smart enough to "hunt humans," have to climb upon you to deliver a bite.

The bites and stings that occur from the above mentioned, are typically the result of "lack of awareness." Putting on shoes without checking, jumping into bed without first checking for "sleepy scorpions" (Sidenote: If you have a "Sleep Number Bed," scorpions prefer an 85 setting) Reaching blindly to grap things such as boxes in the garage, wood from the wood pile, pruning the bushes, etc. Unfortunately for me, (notice I say unfortunately), I live in Seattle where I have to travel at least 2 hours to find any of these creatures. And...if I want scorpions or spiders from AZ, I have to pay dearly for them! When I read your posts the first thought that comes to my head is "Lucky!" I have worked with scorpions and widows for many years. I have handled Black Widows and Bark Scorpions (not recommended though!). They are not aggressive and will only bite or sting if they find themselves in a situation that they deem life threatening. So....fear not my Arizona friends!

snip

i moved to phoenix (cave creek) area 2 weeks ago from Seattle. i got stung by scorpion this morning, twice by same scorpion. as you can say, because i'm from seattle, i never ever thought that i would get stung or even come close to one. i thought scorpions are just something you'll see if you go to mountains or something. because i just moved here, i dont have a bed, so i've been sleeping on the floor. which i heard increases the chance of getting stung. also, i thought living in a brand new apt will help w/ pest problems, since it's brand new, it'll be too clean for bugs. oh boy was i wrong. i see spiders all the time, i see weird looking bugs all the time, and even got stung by scorpion this morning. some people say it only hurts for few hours, they are BS'ing. it's been at least 14hrs since i got stung, and it still hurts so bad. i even went to the Emergency room and they were like, 'uh.. this is not considered as an emergency here'. i was shocked.

i hate phoenix, i want to go back to seattle so bad.

i would take rain over scorpion any day!!!

kelee,

i moved to phoenix (cave creek) ... i thought scorpions are just something you'll see if you go to mountains or something.

also, i thought living in a brand new apt will help w/ pest problems, since it's brand new, it'll be too clean for bugs.

You basically did everything the opposite of what you should do it you want to avoid scorpions.

- You want to avoid living in areas that are near animals' natural habitats. - You moved into a new development area (a new apartment).

If you don't live at the edge of civilization (Cave Creek), and you don't live in a brand new building, your chances of ever seeing a scorpion are almost none. As I've mentioned multiple times in this thread, I've lived in Phoenix my entire life and have never once seem a scorpion outside of captivity.

We recently moved to Garden Lakes in Avondale. I have lived in AZ for 25 yrs and never saw a scorpion till now. I am making up for lost time. We purchased a black light flashlight from a pet store (it works amazingly!!) For those who dont know, a scorpion will show up BRIGHT neon green under this light and would be impossible to miss. We search for them at night, and kill them.. out front and back. We will usually always find one, usually in the cracks of the block wall, sometimes on the ground, once in the pool... BUT only ONCE in the 5 months we have lived here have we found one inside, and that was right after we moved in.. Another family member has them in their house constantly?.. I am trying to figure out what the difference is and the only thing I can come up with is that we have two cats and they have none. I didn't know if this was a myth or not. Also want to find out if it is indeed a fact that cats are immune to them. We have also heard there really isn't any pestiside that is full proof. Grrrr!

Yep... scorpions are a way of life in AZ. We moved to Anthem from So Cal two years ago and have had four scorpions in our house, two in the past two days. There really isn't any pestacide for scorpions, the only control is to eliminate their food source which is mainly crickets. However, I'm intrigued by the use of a cat as a predator, but I'll have to sell my husband on the idea!

We have a home near St George, Ut In Hurricane (about 20 miles from the AZ border). Today is Nov 1, and we are here for the first time in several weeks. We found 2 bark scorpions in the house within 15 minutes of each other. It was around 5 PM, and I found 1 in the master bath toilet (alive in the water) and the second on the kitchen floor. I am worried that we may have a nest or something that we disturbed when we started moving things around. I have been looking for insight on their nesting/ hibernating habits, but I have not found much. Any insight to those who have dealt with these creatures? THANKS!

I have been in arizona for 9 years, and have lived in 7 different places during that time. Up until my last place I had never seen a scorpion inside or outside any of my residences. My current home is on a golf course, within a half mile of south mountain, and also has several new developments within a half mile. I have heard cinder block walls are havens for scorpions, and most fences and even some houses are made of cinder block. Im not sure what attracts them, but my house was infested with scorpions. We found them on the floors, on the ceilings, on the counters, and even one in the bed. We would see one or two a week, and one of my roommates was stung in the kitchen while reaching for a paper towel on the counter. Finally we called an exterminator that sprays once a month, and when he sprays we dont see ANY scorpions.

I recommend sealing any cracks, put mesh from a window screen around any air vents, tape up any access to attics etc, kill their food supply (crickets), and call a good exterminator to come out once every 3-4 weeks.