How common are bee swarms, scorpions and rattlesnakes? (Phoenix: neighborhood, scorpion)

[mamaguz]

I was super gung ho about the possiblity of moving to Arizona until I read an article last night about aggressive bee swarms and scorpions. How common is this? Has anyone here been affected? What about rattlesnakes when hiking? Thanks!

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by mamaguz

I was super gung ho about the possiblity of moving to Arizona until I read an article last night about aggressive bee swarms and scorpions. How common is this? Has anyone here been affected? What about rattlesnakes when hiking? Thanks!

It depends on if you live on the edge of a desert.

1. Bees no more than any other place
2. Scorpions aren’t aggressive

I have seen a scorpion in years

[wit-nit]

Originally Posted by mamaguz

I was super gung ho about the possiblity of moving to Arizona until I read an article last night about aggressive bee swarms and scorpions. How common is this? Has anyone here been affected? What about rattlesnakes when hiking? Thanks!

^^^Those situations are a rarity, you're more likely to be hit by by a texter than anything else.

[ringler24]

Our neighborhood is up against a mountain so we have scorpions. I can't imagine not relocating somewhere due to bees, scorpions, or maybe seeing a rattlesnake while hiking.

[madison999]

It just depends where you live for scorpions and spiders. Pockets of mountain wilderness all over the cities.

So you're not worried about brown recluses, black widows or tarantulas?

[skydude24]

I live on South Mountain and we have had a few scorpions in the house, but nothing too exciting. I have seen two swarms of killer bees in my 25 years here, at least I think that is what it was. I have also had five rattlesnakes in my yard, but I have snake proofed my yard and I have 6ft. snake tongs that I use to put them back in the desert. If you don't live on the desert you will not see rattlers.

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by ringler24

Our neighborhood is up against a mountain so we have scorpions. I can't imagine not relocating somewhere due to bees, scorpions, or maybe seeing a rattlesnake while hiking.

I'm getting ready to move to Arizona, and the same worries crossed my mind till I put it in perspective...I lived in Thailand for two years, and we had cobras and all sorts of creepy crawlies (and yes, I actually ran into a cobra one day and twice pit vipers).

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by skydude24

I live on South Mountain and we have had a few scorpions in the house, but nothing too exciting. I have seen two swarms of killer bees in my 25 years here, at least I think that is what it was. I have also had five rattlesnakes in my yard, but I have snake proofed my yard and I have 6ft. snake tongs that I use to put them back in the desert. If you don't live on the desert you will not see rattlers.

How do you snake proof a yard?

[MGS4EVER]

I live around a lot of farmland where there are numerous bee hive boxes. Twice I've had bees take up residence in my yard by making a new hive in a rubber feed bucket. The first time I saw some bees climbing into the bucket that was overturned (too keep out the rain) I heard humming so I carefully lifted it and wow there were A LOT of bees in there. So I left it alone until someone bumped it and there were angry bees everywhere.

The next time it happened, a beekeeper who came out told me that bees will keep coming back because they can smell the old hive. She recommended pouring boiling water into the bucket to get rid of any beeswax residue. Before she came out though, I was outside and I could see a huge ball of bees in my tree. The next day they were gone. The beekeeper told me that when the hive gets too big the queen will take the hive someplace else and leave a few workers behind. So when the beekeeper came out to get the hive (she relocates them elsewhere and doesn't destroy them) there weren't very many left.

About a week later I was outside and I could hear the hive coming. It was huge and like a dark cloud. They swarmed around and around like a dustdevil. They would land in a tree and then take flight again. This happens at least once a year in my area.

Snakes are fine. Leave them alone. Especially king snakes. They eat gophers and other rodents. Please don't kill them just because YOU are scared. Just walk away or use a broom to scoot them along.

[grmi66]

Just moved out of the Phoenix area and depending on where you live you may never see any of the critters you fear. I do a lot of trail running and hiking and saw rattlesnakes on a regular basis all over town.

Did get attacked by killer bees about 6 years ago at North Mountain Park and was stung about 20 times. Little SOB's chased me for almost half a mile. Came around a corner on a trail, saw their hive about 20 yards away and turned around to run as fast as I could. But they still caught me and attacked. Never happened again and I see them on another trail I frequent with no issues.