Scorpions, Tarantulas, Snakes, Oh-My (Riverside: shop, safe, parking)

[Luxy76]

We just moved to Dripping Springs a few months ago. We are out in a very rural part of Drippin. We see scorpions all the time (inside and outside). They seem to be more docile than I imagined. They usually stick their tail down and run (not too fast). They do climb walls. Never been stung, but hear it's like a bee sting. I have heard they can hit you several times at once though. We squash them whenever we see them. We didn't see any in the winter, mostly June and July so far.
We have a seen a few tarantulas-they seem fairly harmless-I just as soon leave them alone-they don't seem to bother anything. We have never seen any snakes. There are a few ferrel kitties that may be keeping them in check. We do have centipedes that are scary looking. Long (12" sometimes), black, with orange legs.
You sort of develop a sixth sense with all the critters. You just become aware that they are there.

[FromCalitoSteinerRanch]

Originally Posted by Luxy76

We just moved to Dripping Springs a few months ago. We are out in a very rural part of Drippin. We see scorpions all the time (inside and outside). They seem to be more docile than I imagined. They usually stick their tail down and run (not too fast). They do climb walls. Never been stung, but hear it's like a bee sting. I have heard they can hit you several times at once though. We squash them whenever we see them. We didn't see any in the winter, mostly June and July so far.
We have a seen a few tarantulas-they seem fairly harmless-I just as soon leave them alone-they don't seem to bother anything. We have never seen any snakes. There are a few ferrel kitties that may be keeping them in check. We do have centipedes that are scary looking. Long (12" sometimes), black, with orange legs.
You sort of develop a sixth sense with all the critters. You just become aware that they are there.

Your centipede's? Giant Desert Centipede Scolopendra heros

[TX-Griff]

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I've lived here since 1999 and never seen a scorpion. Believe me, I'd know as I have a HUGE phobia of anything w/ less than two or more than four legs and anything that stings.

I've had co-workers who've had run-ins w/ scorpions, but that was only in their brand-spanking new condo/apartment/homes... when you scrape the earth bare around here you'll likely find nests of all SORTS of things. ~~Brrrr, shiver!!!~~

I've had one up-close & personal encounter w/ fire ants... they bit me about a dozen times on an almost bare foot. They itched like heck for a couple of hours, then the lil' blisters (a hard, white head on an angry red blister about the size of half of a pencil eraser) were evident for another week or so, then nothing. The pic presented early in this topic is an outrageous case, nothing like what most of us have encountered.

Because I live in Leander, I've had to educate some folks about driving in deer country. yes, there're LOTS of deer in more urban Austin areas, but out here... well, they're downright BOLD. LOL!

• 1) In the spring & fall, be VERY cautious on "quiet roads" (defined as little/no traffic, few/no overhead street lights, few/no open businesses and backing up to green belts) at dawn & dusk when they travel to feed. In the heat of summer be very cautious in the middle of the night (11 pm - 4 am).
  
  2) If you must drive when deer are on the move, try to NOT be the first car in the pack (you know how cars will huddle up to one another when there're just a few on the road) as that'll be the one a deer will try to "beat" when crossing a road.
  
  3) Be especially alert and keep an eye on the vehicle one or two ahead of you... major accidents occur when the vehicles BEHIND the one that gets hit pile into the one that's hit.
  
  4) If you see deer on the side of the road, SLOW DOWN or even STOP! Do so safely, of course... you don't want to cause an accident while trying to play it safe... but DO IT! If there's one deer visible, you can count on their being a LOT more very close by.
  
  5) You know those "deer whistles" ( Deer whistle / accident prevention - The animal alert safety warning device. )? Get one for every vehicle you have! They really do work and they save lives, vehicles and wildlife!

TX Griff

[beth35]

Scorpion Info.

Before moving to DFW we lived in Canyon Lake. Here's what I learned from the pest control company about scorpions. The TX variety is not posionous.
They nest in Cedar Trees. They have a dormant period from aprox Nov to Feb. If they are in the house they are looking for water or the eggs were layed in the lumber before the new house went up. However, since we had infants in the house I also learned that keeping furniture 2 inches away from the walls and putting crib legs in cups or bins with a very slipery surface similar to smooth glass goes a long way to keeping them away. Be sure not to leave clothes or wet towels around they like to hide in them.

all right back to my trying to investigate the differences between RR,CP and Leander.

[twange]

This guy just came out of his shell.
It's what has been making all of the beautiful racket in the trees lately.

[Phisch]

I love the cicadas! I found the shell of one by the apartment pool a few days ago and my kids didn't get why I was so interested (they hate bugs). When we were kids, we use to put those in matchboxes to have our own personal noisemakers.

[twange]

My wife's uncle was using some mixture of "essence of chrysanthemum" for mosquito control. He had a misting system set up on his gutters that was activated with a remote control (sort of like a morphine drip...)It was very effective. Smelled like old romano cheese but worked We sat outside every night last week and over the weekend and had very minimal mosquito activity. A little but not much

I'm not sure what else was in that concoction but I don't think there was any DEET in there. Here's an article about using natural/organic herbs like chrysanthemum for repellent.

Don' t Buy dangerous chemicals . . . there' s a bett
HOME REMEDIES, HOLISTIC APPROACH, & REPELLENT PLANTS - Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia

[Trainwreck20]

Please remember that natural/organic does not mean safe for unlimited exposure. A lady I know keeps her horse at a barn, and the lady that runs the barn had set up a mosquito control system that was based on some home made 'organic' remedy she made (maybe with ideas from the internet, not sure). Anyway, it made her very ill after working in it day in and day out last summer and she ended up being hospitalized. She has been detoxed, but it was rather serious.

Not saying that all of these are bad, by any means, but use caution even when using a natural or organic product. I think her system just over applied the product.

[twange]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Please remember that natural/organic does not mean safe for unlimited exposure. A lady I know keeps her horse at a barn, and the lady that runs the barn had set up a mosquito control system that was based on some home made 'organic' remedy she made (maybe with ideas from the internet, not sure). Anyway, it made her very ill after working in it day in and day out last summer and she ended up being hospitalized. She has been detoxed, but it was rather serious.

Not saying that all of these are bad, by any means, but use caution even when using a natural or organic product. I think her system just over applied the product.

So true. Lots of research is the best course of action.

Remember, hemlock is also organic

[iguanas4]

Originally Posted by twange

This guy just came out of his shell.
It's what has been making all of the beautiful racket in the trees lately.

hey, great pic!

I KNEW it was cicadas making all that noise. My bf thought it was birds, but I knew better. I grew up in Indiana, and we used to hunt for those little husks that were stuck to the trees in late summer. We called them locusts, though.