Lizards In Phoenix (Tucson, Florence: apartment complex, house, scorpion)

[Locutus of Board]

I know Phoenix does have things like tarantulas, scorpions, and lizards. But how common are the lizards? And how often do they get inside the home? How would you compare their presence to say, Florida (where they're quite abundant).

[LocoAZnative]

Lizards or anything you listed are a problem in the valley and are exaggerated. You will see little geckos scaling the wall. They are cute an pose no threat. Hell they will eat the insects around your property. When ever on sneak into the house we catch it and let it free in the backyard.

[AZgarden]

Yes, and my cat loves to catch them and bring them inside to show me. Little darlin, I have to take them out of her mouth and take them back outside where they belong.

[Zonie5]

just for your own viewing pleasure . if you have a camera with a zoom lens , try to take a closeup pic of one . the color patterns will surprise you .

[Bondurant]

Lizards are common and pose no threat. I used to see the all the time at work. At home the only one I have seen had crawled into my window and died. Tarantula's and scorpions are rare in Phoenix from what I've heard. If the local creatures posed a serious risk to health and safety would so many millions live here? I'd be more worried about gators in Florida. My mothers family had gators in the backyard pool and hanging out on the patio.

[Nanny Goat]

They're cute and almost cuddly.

[observer53]

They are great at controlling insects in your yard. We had one get in the house once, years ago. We managed to capture it and let it loose outside again. Nothing to be concerned about.

And, I've never seen a tarantula in Phoenix or its suburbs. Not to say no one has ever seen one, but they are not common. I've only seen one in over 50 years here, and that was on the highway between Florence and Tucson.

[bolt32]

Observer53,

My curiosity is getting to me.......how did you see a tarantula on the highway? (We just moved here from the midwest this past summer.)

Am hoping it wasn't so BIG that you could spot it from a moving car! OMG! !

Haven't seen one yet, and hoping not to! Lol!

[locolobo13]

Used to see geckos around the back porch. Now that the cat has moved in with us they are pretty rare. He hasn't brought one in for over a year.

[Howard Roark]

In my part of Phoenix I don't remember ever seeing a lizard. Saw a dead bark scorpion once. There are a lot of cotton tail bunnies though. Little cute creatures the kids in my apartment complex probably love. The bunnies come out and about when it's night time up to the quiet early mornings when few people are out and about. I would guess the lizards are beneficial to eat the insects. If I was living here in Phoenix most of the time I would have a cat once again just to safeguard against scorpions. Had a cat once and she was very good at patrolling the interior of my apartment while I was asleep. The next best thing is to never ever have garbage in your wastebasket for more than twelve hours. It's food for the bugs. The bugs then attract scorpions. Simple as that.