Scorpions... (Phoenix, Yuma: environment, work, hospitals)

[Ponderosa]

I leave most bugs alone in the house. But I kill anything I see that would harm me or my family including scorpions and black widows. I have yet to see the first scorpion inside this year, though I found a couple of them yesterday outside in a pile of paving stones we are putting down.

We, too, squash about 10 (scorpions - never seen a black widow indoors) per year around the house. It's been a few years now since anyone got stung, though. And we don't check our shoes or the bed!

[tpesch]

Very interesting topic as we use to live in Arizona (Peoria area) and moved away to Seattle, but are heading back soon (Litchfield Park).
I do truly believe it has allot to do with area (regardless of new development or not). Obviously new development anywhere in the Valley will stir up critters. But for long term issues, I think it has to do with the citrus groves or being backed up to a wash. I have also heard that the Arrowhead area is extremely bad for them (old citrus groves). (This is a very well established and older area).
Keeping the other critters (crickets, etc) out of your yard is a very important. Also, if you have a block fence (99.9% of homes do) it is good to paint,and even better, Stucco your block fence. This takes away the little cracks /etc that they like to hide / live in. At the end of the day, I would research the area you are moving for "long term" major issues, but not canx any plans on moving to Arizona because of it. The Valley has allot to offer and many many great things to counter the critter issue...

[mmcgarry]

Hi,

I have lived in Tempe for 4 years. I have never seen a scorpion. I posted a similar message 4 years ago before I moved from DC area here. From what I have heard it depends on where you live. If you live near a mountain range you have a higher probability of having them. If you live in an area that used to be farm and had lots of pesticides sprayed around for many years, the probability is lower.

Before moving out here you should be aware of the serious negatives of life here:

1) It is seriously hot from late April until mid October.
2) The schools are horrible here, the teachers are unqualified. As a result people are not too bright around here.
3) Sexually related crimes are rampant here. I miss the robberies and arsons back East.
4) A large part of the population here is rather destitute. Lots of Payday loan businesses taking advantage of the poor and uneducated population here in Phoenix.
5) Phoenix is a big city that feels like a small town. (Lots of traffic and people, but no high quality cultural institutions.)

The positives:
1) It is dirt cheap to live here. Only Texas has big cities that are cheaper.
2) It is sunny almost every day.
3) It is relatively quiet even in the suburbs that are close to the city.
4) If you want to escape the heat, you can drive 2 hours to northern Arizona for temperatures that can be 30 degrees cooler.
5) Mexico beaches are a 3 and a half hour drive away!

Hope this helps,

Michael

[kcorlando]

My in-laws live in Sedona and my mother in law was stung, when she contacted the hospital they simply told her to elevate her leg and do the same thing she would have done if she were stung by a wasp. True there are many insects, reptiles in Arizona that you should concern yourself with, however, you can have your yard/home sprayed just as you would for other insects.

[Doug in Mesa]

Hi, I'm the guy from Syracuse. We haven't seen any and I've talked to people who lived her longer that us and they haven't seen any tither. The guys at work like to out at night with black flashlights and turn over rocks. Apparently they glow. My wife has calmed down from all the snake and scorpion talk we heard when we moved here. I'm glad you had a good stay and it sounds like you might be moving forward with that restaurant after all.

Doug in Mesa

[ms973]

Hi. Yes all the talk about scorpions really did scare us at first but I don't think we are going to let that effect our decision on the move there. We keep going back and forth on our plans....mainly my husband. He feels that he has many connections here as far as the restaurant industry and is a little weary about moving somewhere where he knows no one...but it's still a huge option for us. we are awaiting the sale of our restaurant here. lot's to think about until then.

[Doug in Mesa]

Bom Dia 973, I'm the guy from Syracuse who communicated with you earlier. Scorpions and snakes were a major concern for my wife as well but I can tell you after 3 years it is pretty much a non-issue. We live near the edge of the desert where you'd expect to be more likely to run into them. We have't seen a single one. Also, thanks for the tip on Buzios! It looks fantastic and we hope to make it there in 2008 if all goes well. Best of luck on your move.

[Doug in Mesa]

Dang, I forgot I had already replied to your post and wound up doing it twice. I meant to add that if you look at brazilbrazil.com/events.html you will find information on the local AZ Brazilian community that your husband may find helpful.

[ms973]

Oh thank you Doug!! I will look into the website you suggested. Definitely do Buzios!! Loved it!!

[iwanton]

I have many scorpions and chickens. Chickens love to eat scorpions here on my 2 acre hobby ranch. I believe that their population here on my farm is due to plentiful scorpion food supply of crickets and cockroaches. I have lots of trees, which provide rotting wood for the cockroaches. I went out last week and found 5 scorpions on one tree that also harbors cockroaches due to a hole in the heartwood.

I do not use insecticide, which I believe poisons as many helpful insects as pests. I know that many pesticides are toxic to humans, and I'd rather be stung by a scorpion or bitten by a spider than to spray pesticides. There used to be frogs (or toads) here before they started polluting the local area with agri. run-off from the heavily subsidized dairy operation right next to me, and I am determined not to be part of the problem with all of the chemical pollution.

I found out tonight that chickens are not immune to the sting of a bark scorpion. One of my young "pet" chickens (raised in the house), was stung tonight by a scorpion hiding under a small rug that I washed yesterday just before the dust storm.

I thought the carpet had blown away, in the dust storm, but it didn't get very far. When my girlfriend found the rug and lifted it, she law a fair sized scorpion. We showed the prey to the young chicken "Champ" and she propmply attacked; however, two other hens witnessed this catch and started pursuit. champ hastily swallowed the scorpion and I believe that she was stung in the process. She is obviously in distress, and I'm worried for her.

I've lived in the Phoenix area since 1989, and have seen many scorpions, spiders, and snakes. They do live here, and they were here first, and I'll bet that they will be here after we have gone. They can not be exterminated safely except from small areas, and they you need to live with the poison.

I've been stung by a bark scorpions last fall (only once in 15 years here) and I'll tell you that it is very uncomfortable. The only thing that minimized the burning in my finger was direct application of ice, and the worst of the sensation lasted for over 8 hours. Worse than any bee sting that I've ever received. I have not had a bite from a black-widow, which are also abundant here; however, I have been bitten by other venemous(sp) local spiders and found the results mildly painful but more interesting than anything else. In my case, both the spider and scorpion were only protecting themselves, and I consider the sting /bite my fault due to carelessness.

I still believe that walking on the sidewalk, or driving to work daily is more dangerous than the local insects, so I wouldn't worry so much about the insects. It would be better to ensure that the tires on your SUV are inflated properly when it is > 120F outside.

I hope my rambling provideed some reassurance.

Oh yeah, I agree with most of the other posts regarding the local conditions. The schools are terrible (but not much worse than the public high schools in other states). It is really up to the student to learn anyway. The local population is below national average in educational aptitude. Illegal immigration and right to work have kept the unions out and the wage scale low for both uneducated and professional workers. It's HOT here in the summer, and the state is filling up with non-english speaking anti-birth control Catholics due to Hispanic immigration (illegal or otherwise), so conditions are not the best in this state.

I believe that the water, electrical, and transportation infrastructure have been ignored in order for government (which is not supposed to profit at the expense of the citizens) and well financed developers could turn a handsome profit. There is now a housing surplus, so prices should be dropping soon. But if you buy a house here near me, your property taxes will go up on an annual basis which will help reimburse the local government for the the new ill advised stadium which was built for our other than wonderful NFL team. I didn't get to vote on this, as the City of Glendale made the deal behind closed doors, and I am not a resident of Glendale anyway. I live in a county island which will probably remain a county island until the dairy finds the value of the property they are ****ting on too high to **** upon any longer and move to greener pastures.

I hope I didn't scare you off with all the talk about the scorpions or my cynical feelings about government, but I would worry more about the people that you well be dealing with than the insects. The insects won't misrepresent themselves to you, run over you with a motor vehicle, dump raw manure sludge in your irrigation ditch, and they won't sting without provocation.

-Ivan