can scorpions climb? (Queen Creek: work, medical, new house)

[Reid3416]

Are scorpions only ground dwellers or can they climb up things, also can rattlesnakes "climb" up things like trees, houses etc like some other snakes or are they always on the ground.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Reid3416

Are scorpions only ground dwellers or can they climb up things, also can rattlesnakes "climb" up things like trees, houses etc like some other snakes or are they always on the ground.

All scorpions can climb, but some are better than the others. They can pretty much climb any surface other than slick ones (ie glass, plastic, etc). I keep many as pets and observe them in the wild in AZ, MO, etc. The only scorpion in AZ that is a extremely good climber is the one you need to look out for (Centruroides exilicauda). Its venom is considered medically significant, so any sting should be treated with utmost caution.

As for rattlesnakes (Crotalidae), no, they wont climb up houses. They can, however, get into trees, but only a few feet up. Even that is rare for them to do, but theyve been observed in branches, a few feet off the ground, raiding bird nests or other prey. On the ground, when lying in wait, theyll be curled up, making them very hard to see. Their patterning is very cryptic, and most times you wont even see them. When in snake country (all of AZ), its wise to wear snake boots or chaps if out in the brush.

[Ponderosa]

I have smacked more than a few I found walking on the walls and even the ceiling. It takes a skillful touch, learned after many years of desert dwelling, to smack the scorpion without mashing it all over the wall paint.

[twiggy]

They see them on the ceiling of my kids classroom at school, especially after a rain (not that often). The teachers have tricks but for the most part they end up in the light fixture. They hunt so you have to figure. The worst is when there over your bed on the ceiling. My friend lives in Awatukee and has Scorpions. She'll be laying in bed and they will try and make it across the ceiling but have failed, falling into her bed! Yikes!

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by twiggy

They see them on the ceiling of my kids classroom at school, especially after a rain (not that often). The teachers have tricks but for the most part they end up in the light fixture. They hunt so you have to figure. The worst is when there over your bed on the ceiling. My friend lives in Awatukee and has Scorpions. She'll be laying in bed and they will try and make it across the ceiling but have failed, falling into her bed! Yikes!

Thanks for the image.

[Reid3416]

I definately need to find my happy place after that one...Yikes!

[MaimounaKande]

We had them dropping out of ceiling vents in our house. It was new, and we aren't from AZ, so we were freaking out! We were told they get built into the walls of new houses, so they'd only drop from the ceiling for a few months, which turned out to be true. My daughter's bed was right under a vent (obviously we moved it, thankfully w/o her being bitten). Also, a neighbor told us to put the legs of our son's crib into glass jars as they can't climb glass. They can otherwise climb a crib leg and a bark scorpion bite can be fatal to an infant.

A rattler made it over our wall once...and it's a fairly high wall. The only thing I can figure is that it somehow climbed through the honeysuckle which is on both sides of the wall. Made me check under the honeysuckle (and cut it way back) from then on!

[twiggy]

We found a rattler under the sink of a home we were looking to buy one time. I guess they like the moisture. This was in Queen Creek though, in town you don't run into the snakes much, just scorpions and little creepy things.

[jcs1956]

Does anyone know about a snake fence or how its made or more important do they work.we are moving from the northeast to Hereford thats near sierra vista,az some one told me there are snakes.thanks for any help.

[30apples]

I can't imagine what a snake fence would be, except maybe one made out of smooth steel or glass! here are some things to do to limit exposure to snakes around your house. don't have piles of things around- they could attract rodents, which the snakes hunt. No sense providing the food source. Also, pots laying on edge, or any similar thing,which could provide shade for a snake isn't a good idea.
if you have piles of building materials or firewood, keep it well away from your house or other buildings. When taking things from those piles , poke around first w/ a pole, to see if there is a snake about. Carry a walking stick while on your property to poke things you're not sure of, or that you can't see inside or underneath, rather than using your hands or feet. That is most important. NEVER put your hands or feet in places you haven't "eye-balled" for safety.

Also, when walking w/ the stick, it vibrates the ground as the stick hits the ground w/ every step you take. Snakes can't hear but can feel the vibration and will go away or hide, so you will generally, not come in contact with them. Keep in mind that you are more likely to see harmless snakes rather than rattlers. those are the good snakes, which will help to keep the rodent population down and therefore such diseases as hanta virus and the plague. The rattlers help with this task as well.
If you have scorpions in the house, check your sheets and under your pillow before getting into bed, they are sometimes found there. Keep meat tenderizer in the house and if bitten, make a small amount of paste w/ a little water, to put on the sting. the poison is broken down (it's a protein) by the meat tenderizer. No more hurt in about 5 minutes. Works well.