Rattlesnakes and other venomous species (eat, estimate, best)

[Mommyov5]

I love reading all of Steve-o's info on all the creepy crawlers, you have really educated me on what to look for and how to handle them. I live in Washington right now but have been debating on moving to AZ in June09. I too have children and worry a great deal about them. I don't know if AZ is a place for us, I have 5 kids and the smallest are 2 one year olds that would love to pick up anything that struck them curious (scorpions,snakes,spiders,ect.) Even though I feel educated on the creepy crawlers thanks to Steve-o I still feel extremely nervous of the thought of moving my kids there. Even though I'm in need of a change of scenery Do you have any more advice that might ease my mind on this subject?? I hope your not too tired of helping with this matter.

Thanks

[esselcue]

Don't worry about it! Thousands of parents have raised thousands of children here in AZ without any life-threatening bites or stings. The concern about creepy crawlers is way overrated. Babies should never be left alone in the first place and older kids, three or four yearsand up, are not hard to educate about what to touch and what not. My own kids and grandkids were harmed more often by stepping on a cactus thorn than by any sting or bite. Fear not!

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Mommyov5

I love reading all of Steve-o's info on all the creepy crawlers, you have really educated me on what to look for and how to handle them. I live in Washington right now but have been debating on moving to AZ in June09. I too have children and worry a great deal about them. I don't know if AZ is a place for us, I have 5 kids and the smallest are 2 one year olds that would love to pick up anything that struck them curious (scorpions,snakes,spiders,ect.) Even though I feel educated on the creepy crawlers thanks to Steve-o I still feel extremely nervous of the thought of moving my kids there. Even though I'm in need of a change of scenery Do you have any more advice that might ease my mind on this subject?? I hope your not too tired of helping with this matter.

Thanks

Im glad you found the info helpful!

You shouldnt be too worried. Its not like scorpions and black widows are running around unchecked. All it takes is a keen eye and some education for your kids, and supervision. I wouldnt let them roam around the backyard (especially if it backs up to untouched desert) unsupervised, thats for sure. Scorpions love to hide under objects during the daytime, and they will take shelter anywhere they see fit, whether it be a shoe, a rock, a piece of cardboard, pool toys, etc. Its imperative that you check those things before use, as thats when most people get stung. Be careful around woodpiles as black widows and rattlesnakes are notorious for making their homes in them. To be honest, anywhere they can hide, they will. Just watch where you walk, dont put your hands and feet where you cant see them, and keep the AZ Poison Control phone number handy, and learn the life-threatening symptoms that can develop from a severe envenomation. But most importantly, if you feel you or your loved ones have been bit or stung by something potentially dangerous, get to the hospital. Better safe than sorry!

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by esselcue

My own kids and grandkids were harmed more often by stepping on a cactus thorn than by any sting or bite. Fear not!

Fear the cholla barbs. Oh yes, fear the cholla barbs. Theyre absolutely AWFUL!

To be honest, Id rather get stung by a scorpion (minus the bark scorpion) than get a leg full of cholla needles.

[esselcue]

Or pulling cholla needles out of a dog's snout

[LBear]

Originally Posted by Mommyov5

I love reading all of Steve-o's info on all the creepy crawlers, you have really educated me on what to look for and how to handle them. I live in Washington right now but have been debating on moving to AZ in June09.

There are dangers everywhere. Just last month there have been 2 reported cases of Hantavirus in Washington state. One was a fatality. You have millions of Deer Mice in that state. 3 out of 10 Deer mice carry the virus.

CLICK HERE

Also, Washington is known to have many Hobo Spiders. They are similar to the Brown Recluse and cause necrotic bites.

CLICK HERE

No place is immune to dangers.

Spray for bugs around your home and lay glue traps in your garage and inside your home. Glue traps work great with catching crawling things. Those two things will virtually eliminate all pest problems.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by LBear

There are dangers everywhere. Just last month there have been 2 reported cases of Hantavirus in Washington state. One was a fatality. You have millions of Deer Mice in that state. 3 out of 10 Deer mice carry the virus

And that right there, folks, is why you should leave snakes alone. Theyre the best rodent-killing machine out there, far more effective than any Terminix dork will ever be.

[jrdudas]

I lived in Tucson for many years. My oldest son was 2 1/2 when we moved there and my youngest son was born there. Shortly after moving into our new house my son got stung by a scorpion in our living room. The area of Tucson we lived in was protected by the Rural Fire Department (a membership required organization at that time). We were members and a call to them resulted in their instructions to go to the hospital immediately. They also advised my wife to put a glass over the scorpion and they would come and get it and meet her at the hospital. Their advice was good and when the firemen arrived with the scorpion the ER doctors were able to determine that it was not one of the poisonous types. They told us that there are 25 types of scorpions and only 2 types that are poisonous. Both of those types are found in Arizona, but so are most of the non-poisonous ones. No further treatment was required. In the time I lived there I saw many Black Widow Spiders, and some scorpions. I found a Coral snake (quite dangerous given the right conditions) in our swimming pool but never saw a rattlesnake on our property.

The advice you received here is good; never reach in to a spot that you cannot see, and check your shoes before you put them on. Because of the scorpion incident were had our entire property sprayed every two or three months. That got rid of the Black Widows and Scorpions but also got rid of the Quail and Rabbits.

I would not let your fear of poisonous creatures stop your move; you just have to be sure to educate yourself and your family. Other locations have dangerous animals also. Most of the US has Timber Rattlers, Copperheads, Brown Recluse Spiders, and Water Mocassins. When you grow up in an area and learn about the dangers over a period of time it doesn't seem so scary.

JR

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by jrdudas

They told us that there are 25 types of scorpions and only 2 types that are poisonous. Both of those types are found in Arizona, but so are most of the non-poisonous ones

Well, the Fire Department, like most people, dont know a dang thing about scorpions it seems. Sad thing is, most people will believe them seeing that theyre some kind of "authority". I can tell you right now that the info they gave you is incredibly misleading on several accounts. First, ALL scorpions are venomous (not poisonous). Second, ALL scorpions are potentially lethal, it all depends on the victims' reaction to their venom. Thirdly, the only scorpion in AZ that has claimed lives is the "Arizona bark scorpion", or Centruroides exilicauda if you want to Google that name. That is the single scorpion that is responsible for all the deaths that have occurred in Arizona (and Sonora Mexico). No deaths have occurred in a long time thanks to the availability of anti-venin. W/o anti-venin, there would have been an untold number of deaths in the Valley from bark scorpions.

[j760]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

And that right there, folks, is why you should leave snakes alone. Theyre the best rodent-killing machine out there, far more effective than any Terminix dork will ever be.

And a heck of a lot cheaper too.