What do you guys deal with the most? (Phoenix: scorpion, live)

[Jkgourmet]

When we lived in Chandler, it was pigeons (aka flying rats) and ants. When we moved to Mesa, it was mostly just the ants with a (very) few scorpions and seasonal moths.

[R_Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by Bummer

HUMMINGBIRDS, Urban Dweller.

The Hummingbird Feeder on my patio needs filling at least 3 times a week, sometimes more.

They are "drinking" me to the Poor House.

Well MY worst pests are the dang woodpeckers that insist on landing on my hummingbird feeder and drinking all the juice! That might be your problem, too, Bummer!! Greedy suckers and noisy!! Woodpeckers and the pigeons! Oh and my neighbor's cat who apparently is not fed well, so it eats all the Quail babies and eggs I waited patiently to admire.

Here's the thread I started to show what I did to scare away the woodpeckers: http://www.city-data.com/forum/natur...feeders-2.html

It kinda sorta works. Now the woodpecker daddy is teaching woodpecker baby to steal nectar. So I take the spider off occasionally and then hang it back up. The uncertainty of that seems to keep the things away better than just leaving it there. Hummingbirds are not affected. They're smarter than woody the woodpecker.

[kdog]

Originally Posted by R_Cowgirl

my neighbor's cat who apparently is not fed well, so it eats all the Quail babies and eggs I waited patiently to admire.

That's terrible. I would issue a stern warning to the neighbor that the next time their cat enters your yard will be its last. Check with your town to be sure, but there are ordinances in most towns against letting pets run free (including cats) and then cite the code to your neighbor. You have the law on your side here.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by R_Cowgirl

Well MY worst pests are the dang woodpeckers that insist on landing on my hummingbird feeder and drinking all the juice! That might be your problem, too, Bummer!! Greedy suckers and noisy!! Woodpeckers and the pigeons! Oh and my neighbor's cat who apparently is not fed well, so it eats all the Quail babies and eggs I waited patiently to admire.

It kinda sorta works. Now the woodpecker daddy is teaching woodpecker baby to steal nectar. So I take the spider off occasionally and then hang it back up. The uncertainty of that seems to keep the things away better than just leaving it there. Hummingbirds are not affected. They're smarter than woody the woodpecker.

Very interesting, R_Cowgirl . . . thanks for the spider info.

Since my Hummingbird Feeder is hanging from an eave about 3 feet from my "home-office" window, the few times a Woodpecker does decide to "attack" . . . a quick bang on the glass or even a counterattack from me scares the bugger off.

Luckily, they are quick learners and rarely even come close anymore, however, I will keep your spider idea handy . . . just in case.

[Magnum Mike]

Originally Posted by Urban_Dweller

Hi all!

I am highly interested in asking the various denizens of Arizona (to all areas of the state), what is the most common house pest (Mice, rats, spiders, roaches, etc) to deal with, in accordance to your experiences? As a New Yorker, I was tired of dealing with mice. However, some years ago, I put steel wool on all orifices throughout my apartment and the problem has been solved since.

thank for your inputs .

Cheers.

The area I live in (northwest Phoenix) I haven't seen any pests like the ones you mentioned, probably because I get the house and the yards treated by a pest control company every 3 or 4 months. I had problems with a couple of feral cats that were using my backyard as a bathroom, but I got something from the Home Depot, and I sprayed the areas they used, and no more cats. There are also many organizations that'll spay or neuter stray cats so that the problem does not multiply.

Items that can be bothersome are not pests, but weeds and messy trees. If you plan to get a new house built, make sure you ask the landscaping company about the trees they give you and if they're messy. I know you're not going to find trees that are mess-free, but I'm now wishing I knew something about the 2 trees they gave me in the front yard when my house was built in 1998, if I had known they were messy, I would have asked for something else.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by kdog

That's terrible. I would issue a stern warning to the neighbor that the next time their cat enters your yard will be its last. Check with your town to be sure, but there are ordinances in most towns against letting pets run free (including cats) and then cite the code to your neighbor. You have the law on your side here.

I agree, KDog . . . good advice.

I've never owned a cat and probably never will but I will always respect those who do.

However, I have little or no respect for those cat owners who choose to allow their pets to run wild on a regular basis, not only out of concern for their neighbors but the overall safety of the animal.

For those of us with rude cat neighbors . . . a simple remedy is a spray bottle of FEBREZE. A quick spray in the area where the cat enters the area or the area of interest usually does the trick but if that doesn't work, spray the cat. It may take a couple of "spray attacks" but it does work.

[Urban_Dweller]

Thanks to you all! I am quite entertained with the responses found in the thread. I have been considering whether or not to move into Arizona. Granted, I do not feel as if Cats, Scorpions or any type of birds to be any kind of "threat" or "disgraceful" creature to inhabit my living quarters. I actually enjoy Scorpions and some of the other animals mentioned in the thread. Once again, thanks for the input!

[cjs123]

[quote=Magnum Mike; I had problems with a couple of feral cats that were using my backyard as a bathroom, but I got something from the Home Depot, and I sprayed the areas they used, and no more cats. [/QUOTE]

Magnum, what did you buy at Home Depot for the cats? Feral cats have been an issue out here in San Tan Valley. Things will be OK for awhile, then one or more will start using my 1/4-minus walkway as a litterbox.

[wit-nit]

Rabbits here, and then you have to watch out for those other nuisances them 'jumpin' chollas, they is nasty.

[pokuku]

Originally Posted by sweetp979

When I lived in Gilbert, it was roaches. Everywhere. All the time. In nice neighborhoods, too. So gross. Oh, and mosquitos.

In Mesa, we had scorpions and black widows. And pigeons. I hate birds.

I'm in Flagstaff now and there's a mix of random spiders and squirrels/rabbits. Much better

This is a pretty good summary, except that I'll add in the Roof Rats in many parts of the Phoenix area.

Also (to the OP), I'm not sure you'd enjoy Arizona's bark scorpion very much, unless you like temporary paralysis.