How to tell a Tucson transplant (home, move, buying)

[mdtoaz]

Okay, I think I'd wet the bed if I had a scorpion fall on top of me - weather deadly or not.

I haven't seen any since I've been here, but I have seen two tarantulas. Luckily neither were in the house.

[frogandtoad]

See now, I have yet to see a tarantula!! My kids saw one with their teacher (in their school!) but I've never seen one. That would be really neat!

[moving-to-AZ]

As you can tell I will soon be a transplant. Are you serious, scorpions in people's HOUSES??!!! Are these older houses and/or apartment complexes? That freaks me out--I'm not looking forward to the possibility of seeing rattlesnakes, scorpions and/or tarantulas. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! LOL!

Any tips for a newcomer? What about running/hiking in the mountains--what do I have to watch out for??

[frogandtoad]

There are tons of threads on scorpions and all other creepy crawly-type things so your best bet is probably to do a search for them.

In terms of scorpions, it seems to boil down to this: some people do have them in the house, some people don't. Some people swear it's all hype, some say it's not. If you live in an apt. you probably aren't likely to see them. If you live in a new house in the desert, well then you've just disturbed their homes by building and they may be more likely. Like I said above, we lived out in the desert, not on a cul-de-sac in town, and we saw many in our house. Others have seen none. It's truly not a big deal though. Just wear slippers at night and look before sticking your hand somewhere dark. With all the ones we saw, no one was bitten and if htey had been, it wouldn't have been the end of the world. I never once saw a tarantula in 2 years, though others have. I saw tons of rattlesnakes (mostly dead on the road in this one spot by a nearby wash. We all called it "rattlesnake alley"). Had a bullsnake living in our backyard which was good as htey keep away rattlers. Saw 3 live rattlers in 2 years (one in our garage, one in the neighbor's backyard, one at the farmer's market). The neighbor's yard one was a bit scary b/c there were tons of kids around. The neighbors all around had theem here and there. Again, this is really going to depend where you live. If you live in a built-up neighborhood or downtown, you may never see one. If you live in the desert, you probably will.

We hiked tons and never even saw a snake! We did keep our eyes peeled though.

It's a great place to live. It won't seem scary once you're there.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

See now, I have yet to see a tarantula!! My kids saw one with their teacher (in their school!) but I've never seen one. That would be really neat!

One night while swimming in the pool of the condo we stayed in last July/August (which was at the base of the Catalina Foothills) I spotted a HUGE tarantula (easily 6-8 inches across the legs) lumbering out of the shrubbery. Since I was IN the pool at the time - with my head at the level of the patio, I could see UNDER the thing as it made its' way across the sidewalk. It was like watching one of those old 1950's horror movies where they blow up the image of a regular tarantula to make it look like its' gigantic. It was wayyyyyyyy cool and wayyyyyyyy creepy.

Also saw plenty of other wierd bugs - including an enormous flying beetle that sipped necter from flowers like a hummingbird (and about the same size as one) and a strange little pure white bug of some kind that looked like a living snowflake running around like it was on acid.

Even in the short time I've spent in Arizona, it's clear the place is a Mecca for strange and exotic insects.

Ken

[mdtoaz]

My tarantula sightings were near a pool too - at the place we rented when we first got here. The first one I saw while driving back from the pool. It was huge!! It basically looked like somebody dipped a hand in brown paint and short hair.

After that I would always take a flashlight when we went to the pool because we usually went in the evenings and the lighting wasn't great over there. My husband ragged on me for it, saying I was paranoid. The first night I had the flashlight with me, I saw one on the sidewalk. It was only 4 inches or so (a lot smaller than the first), so I'm guessing it was a baby or a different species, but it was still creepy.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by mdtoaz

It basically looked like somebody dipped a hand in brown paint and short hair.

That's one creative and accurate way of describing a tarantula!

[beowulf77]

we keep our out-of-state 60$ registration license plates. That VAT is ridiculous.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by beowulf77

we keep our out-of-state 60$ registration license plates. That VAT is ridiculous.

You can keep them for only so long...

[beowulf77]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

You can keep them for only so long...

I know a guy that has had his for 8 years!

I mean seriously, the fine x 2 = less than the VAT for my car.

If AZ would ease that up they'd get more people buying new cars and boost other taxes (Sales etc)... but that makes too much sense I guess.