Prospective Resident re: scorpions - scorpions

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.