Housing, Bugs and more (Phoenix, Tucson: house, neighborhoods, buying)

[Oregoniansonthemove]

My husband and I are talking about relocating to the Phoenix area. I have been doing some research on places to live and I still have all kinds of questions I am hoping some of you can answer.

I also realize that people freak out about the critters, myself included. But I am trying not to. Please realize that I am from the NW and I have never seen a scorpion, so naturally there is a bit of a fear.

So here is where I am at. We would like to move into an area that is pretty safe, and somewhat newer. We are hoping to have kids down the road and want a place where they will be safe. I have read that Gilbert is a nice place?

Also, I have read that if you live on the outskirts, near the dessert etc. that the chance of having scorpions is higher. With that said, where can we live that meet the above requirements, yet avoid having too many scorpions? I realize that we may not be able to avoid them all together....

And, I have read that many people say they find them in their clothing, shoes or bed....what are ways to prevent that? Does hiring a Pest Co. take care of these critters?

Any tips, or advice would be so awesome.

Oh one more minor question....spiders....again, are they pretty manageable with pest control?

THANK YOU!

[Ponderosa]

I don't know what "too many" scorpions is. I have 'em at my house - got stung just yesterday in fact. But we see maybe 3-4 per year in the house if that and a few in the garage (hint: they like to hide in the expansion joint under the overhead door). It's a summer thing primarily, too. It's not like they are just running wild over the furniture or anything. I might not even see them if we sprayed for the other bugs they eat, but I am leary of pesticides, particularly around kids. So we take out chances with the occasional scorpion.

[Oregoniansonthemove]

Thanks Ponderosa. I guess part of me was hoping "too many" meant none. But I do realize that they are a part of life in Arizona.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Oregoniansonthemove

Thanks Ponderosa. I guess part of me was hoping "too many" meant none. But I do realize that they are a part of life in Arizona.

There are many who have been here for years who swear they never see them. My neighbor next door to me (also on the desert preserve) has seen one in about 20 years. They spray like there's no tomorrow, though.

I think that if you move here you will see that your fears are way out of proportion to the problem.

[Oregoniansonthemove]

Are you aware of the impact on pets? Namely, cats? I don't know if my house cat will be much of a hunter, and I would hate for him to run into one of the Bark Scorpions and not know what to do with it.

[Ponderosa]

Some say cats are immune. Cats do mess with them. I think cats are just quick enough to avoid being stung. They seem to be able to hear them and will pick and poke under and around things. Our cat was showing a great interest in table once and I hunted in the crevices and behold, there was a scorpion hiding there. As far as them keeping scorpions under control, well I ain't buying it. They are far too lazy to spend time looking for them. My dogs FEAR them. In fact, the dog is a good indicator of when one is about as they run away and cower and stare at the place they saw it. I think both of them must have taken it on the nose at one time. Scorpion stings hurt and are not something even a dog would forget.

[Oregoniansonthemove]

Your poor pup! That's what I heard about the cats, I just know mine. He may be too scared without getting stung!

[Ritchie_az]

Also, it depends on where in the state you'll be moving. I assume it will be Phoenix or Tucson, but this is the Arizona forum, so you never know....

[SedonaShadow]

Ritchie is correct. You would not be a happy camper in the Sedona area. Putting aside all the animals that would be trooping through your property, scorpions, tarantulas, rattlesnakes, and lizards by the gazillions are underfoot in most neighborhoods. No one has mentioned that the scorpions are little critters compared to the usual vision. Someone tell me if they are bigger in other parts of the state if so.

[observer53]

The spray does nothing to kill the scorpions themselves, but it controls the bugs that they feed on. There are SO many scorpion threads here started by people like you who are WAY more concerned about them than they need to be. Most people have never seen one, or more than one.

Gilbert is a nice place. Unless you are both working at home, you need to base a lot of the decision about where to live on where you will be working. This is a very spread out place, and commutes can be VERY long. Gilbert may not be close to where you end up working.