Snakes, Scorpions, Lizards...HALP! (San Antonio, Howe: sales, hotel, income)

[colmscheid]

Originally Posted by Dementia_Impaled

The further north you go in Bexar county toward the Hill Country, the more likely you are to find scorpions. The newer your construction is, the more likely you are to find scorpions. I've ridden trails near Sea World & Fiesta Texas and would occassionaly run over one, but haven't ever seen any south of downtown.

The tarantulas (I'm assuming) are the black/brown and orange-banded flavor, and while hairy and scary-looking, are harmless. Also, if you see them, you'll very likely get to see a tarantula hawk:



A caveat on those tarantulas: if you drop them from a height, they'll break.

The geckos are the Mediterranean variety that are thought to have jumped ship somewhere:



You'll likely have these guys, Anoles, also, especially if you have hedges:



I don't need to post a pic of the cockroaches: everyone knows what they look like Yes, they do fly. Yes, they can see you. I hate them, I despise them, I have an honest-to-god phobia and can strip to my underwear in three seconds if I think one has landed on me. Aquanet hairspray and a lighter are my revenge...this is part of my therapy

The general rule around my house is if a spider isn't a jumper (jumping spider), it's a dead spider. If it's funky looking, it's a dead spider. If it's a little too hairy and a little too fast, it's a dead spider. It's a good rule to have: If in doubt, put it out.

As with the scorpions, you generally won't find snakes unless you live in recent construction or in an area like the Hill country, ie scrub, semi-wooded, rocky. Rattlers don't prefer grassy lawns in my experience. I've never seen a copperhead here, and have only seen water moccasins around the section of Salado Creek near my house. We actually have to hunt down the grass and blind snakes if we want to see one.

I'm intrigued about the centipedes. I never saw one when we lived near Pleasanton, just the usual coral snakes, rattlers, and tarantulas.

I am on the opposite end around Pleasanton I've only seen the centipedes, matter of fact found one in my bed the hard way. Bit three times felt like fire!
I would only share info on two of the bites...Longest seen to date nearly 12".

[pippo]

Hey ya'll this is Texas. Alot of land and there are bitty things that live here with us. I know there are those that get the hebegebes from everything that crawls but remember they do more good than bad. Most creepy crawlies eat the things that are really bad like roaches. As far as snakes, I love snakes and when ever I am out and about I look for them. I have not been able to actually find a rattle snake and I look! The chance of you coming up on one is low. With all that said, unless you live on a ranch somewhere you shound not have problems.


Notice I did not mention FIRE ANTS! I hate those little blanks.

[wCat]

Originally Posted by pippo

Hey ya'll this is Texas. Alot of land and there are bitty things that live here with us. I know there are those that get the hebegebes from everything that crawls but remember they do more good than bad. Most creepy crawlies eat the things that are really bad like roaches. As far as snakes, I love snakes and when ever I am out and about I look for them. I have not been able to actually find a rattle snake and I look! The chance of you coming up on one is low. With all that said, unless you live on a ranch somewhere you shound not have problems.


Notice I did not mention FIRE ANTS! I hate those little blanks.

Pippo...come on over to my house and LOOK! I haven't seen a live snake yet, but I did come home to a 3 ft shedded snake skin hanging from a large oak out front. LOL! We have a green belt/ravine behind us that leads down to the Olmos Basin....I'm sure the rains have run them up the hills! Actually...they don't bother me if I don't see them! ...and they stay OUTSIDE!

[pippo]

Having a greenbelt will increase the risk but you should be fine. As far as getting into your living area, a snake will avoid you if it can. They may seek a cool spot when it gets hot but they dont like people.

[ericvb]

Well, I'm reading all these posts about people who have lived here for so long and never seen a snake.

I've lived here since August 16th

Tonight, 2 feet from my front door was a 6ft Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.

I live on the Converse/San Antonio border, it's not the country by any means, but our development isnt completed yet.

Along with that, I've had a scorpion in my kitchen and garage.

All in 3 months.

We called the Sheriff and they shot the snake, didnt kill it. Then my neighbor shot it, then it came after us. We then killed it with a shovel and garden hoe.

So I've seen one! A big one actually! They only grow to about 7 feet.

[sunset_chaser]

Originally Posted by tiffani

HA! Glad I could make you smile!

I would actually prefer to live in Colorado Springs, CO, but we have to go where the best job opportunites are, darn it all. We're still undecided as to where we'll be moving to, but it looks like SA has a lot of potential for my husbands career, which is pretty important when we have 4 little mouths to feed. Darn kids. SA also sounds like a lovely place to live.

I'm not letting some little bugs scare me away, I'm just not too keen on sharing a bedroom with them, that's all. Guess I'll be getting a stupid cat when we move. Grr! Not a fan of cats. Less of a fan of rodents though! Lessser of two evils I guess.

Tiff......Well, all you need is a good pest control company.......I HATE anything that is crawling around....YES there are bugs in the South and South West.....ORG. a PA girl......get a bug co. undercontract and have them do their thing for bugs inside and out.....they will spray for everthing in the house....even scorpions...have been here 3 yrs. and have had the bug man and yes 4 scorpions have been in the house.....as for outside.....I was bitten by fire ants last July and about kicked the bucket...it seems I am very allergic to them.....so the bug man took care of the fire ants in the yard along with the scorpions......DO NOT let this SCARE you away from San Antonio.......it is a great place to live.....


FYI .....I lived in Charleston SC for 5 yrs. and needed the bug man for sure........Lived in S FL....for 4 years and ya need the bug man too......


You need your Bug Man......A/C.....and Ceiling Fans....and do not forget the $$ to pay for all of these services.......

[szk]

I have been in San Antonio for less than a year and have seen a scorpion in the house! Dead ones in light fixtures. There is a snake right now that is in the backyard! It took residence this last week. Fire Ants galore that are very difficult to control. The Fire Ants are worse than anything!!! Lizards, just saw my first one outside in the front two days ago. Spider? Geez! The spiders are bigger and more than I have seen anywhere. Prior to moving here I visited a few times and saw a huge snake at the River Walk...and one by a pond near a friend's apartment. In all fairness, I am living in a new development. I hear it is like this in new developments where there is open area nearby. I am not used to this at all. I have not ever been afraid of insects, but I am terrified of the Fire Ants now...every time I do yard work I get bit and end up hypotensive and fatigued. My advice, move to a well developed area or Colorado!!!

[Sweetie Pie]

Phshawww, lizards, snakes, spiders, oh my. Get a cat, and leave it outside!

[GoTexan]

I've got Mr.Terminx man coming next week. Since yesterday's rain, I noticed about 8 new ant hills pop up!

I'm used to this though, TX native here. YOu've got to treat your house and yard and watch where you step/dig or else....'ye ouch!

Other than that, I enjoy the lizards and some spiders (outside of course!) If they are inside, I help them find their way out before my dogs catch em! hehe

[SAFD_Wife]

Originally Posted by Sweetie Pie

Phshawww, lizards, snakes, spiders, oh my. Get a cat, and leave it outside!

That's what I said, until my cat showed up on the back porch with a head bigger than a softball! Poor thing was bit by a rattlesnake behind the house. I felt horrible, because my sole purpose of getting it was to be a "ferocious snake fighter". Now he is my little baby, and lives in the luxury of the garage, house, yard, etc. He lost a chunk of skin by his eye and under his neck where the venom ran down his face and settled on his skin. He was out of commission for a week, then bounced back like a champ. We have seen three other snakes outside, several scorpions, spiders at least once a day...saw the first roach the other day after the rain, but that was the one and only. Honestly, of all of the creepy crawly types, roaches are my least favorite! I am truly scared of them. I hate that they are so unpredictable and randomly fly around! My hubby ran a call at work the other day, for a woman with a....roach in her ear! They were having a party and the roach landed on her head and crawled in her ear. No kidding!!!! Apparently it was very painful and bloody, but the paramedic finally got it out. The roach was actually resisting arrest and trying to crawl deeper into her ear. Poor lady! I would have passed out long before all that!