Dreaming of 'the life' but have a question about the desert

[user 30781]

 Not sure how far north you mean, but theres no shortage of rattlesnakes in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and southern Canada in open areas not in high elevations in the mountains. Plenty of scorpions also, though they arent really much of an issue.

 Dogs are trained by specialist trainers to smell snakes, its an aversion training thats available. Snakes definitely have a scent.

Snakes do smell, some of them anyway.  I can remember picking up garter snakes in Seattle when I was young and thinking how awful they smelled.

I live in the Wenatchee valley in Eastern WA and occasionally you will hear about someone coming across a rattlesnake in their yard.  They're definitely out in the scrub here.

 

[crofter]

....Scorpions arent generally very dangerous....

The smaller bark scorpion packs a potentially fatal sting. Scorpions can drop out of trees or climb into your bed. Be sure to foil the scorpion's path with a slick surface, like plastic or a strip of packing tape. Here is a link with pics.
-crofter

 

[crofter]

The smaller bark scorpion packs a potentially fatal sting. Scorpions can drop out of trees or climb into your bed. Be sure to foil the scorpion's path with a slick surface, like plastic or a strip of packing tape. Here is a link with pics.
-crofter

Here is the link.

https://azpoison.com/venom/scorpions

The scorpion also sprays digestive enzymes onto their food, you do not want to get the enzyme in your eyes  yet another reason to wear shades. A nocturnal hunter, the scorpion may drop out of trees or climb into your bed. You will want to use a slick surface like plastic or packing tape to foil their climb. 

I once encountered a hunting momma scorpion with babies in gravel under a tree. I sprayed them down with the hose I was holding and the babies jumped onto momma's back and away they went. I received multiple stings in the ankles from about 2 or 3 feet, very painful but I did not pass out or die. Could have been prevented with tall leather boots and avoiding the trees.
-crofter

 

[LERCA]

I’ve encountered rattlesnakes in the low 60’s because the ambient temperature is comfortable and in the sun it’s nice and warm, same with lizards. In fact it gets hot. Our trails are full of rattlers see the sign I posted. And I’ve never been attacked out of nowhere. There’s a canyon on the other side of my street and a lot of rattle snakes would come up the canyon into our yards and have to be killed. There were too many pets and small children and they were just looking for food. This was year round so I wouldn’t let my guard down because it was 59 or 60 degrees.

 

[DonnaA]

Malamute  thanks so much for your response. lots to think about.  wow-you\'ve sure had experience w/ critters for sure.

 

[DonnaA]

I’ve encountered rattlesnakes in the low 60’s because  the ambient temperature is comfortable and in the sun it’s nice and warm, same with lizards. In fact it gets hot. Our trails are full of rattlers see the sign I posted. And I’ve never been attacked out of nowhere. There’s a canyon on the other side of my street and a lot of rattle snakes would come up the canyon into our yards and have to be killed. There were too many pets and small children and they were just looking for food. This was year round so I wouldn’t let my guard down because it was 59 or 60 degrees.

 

[DonnaA]

Here is the link.

https://azpoison.com/venom/scorpions

The scorpion also sprays digestive enzymes onto their food, you do not want to get the enzyme in your eyes  yet another reason to wear shades. A nocturnal hunter, the scorpion may drop out of trees or climb into your bed. You will want to use a slick surface like plastic or packing tape to foil their climb. 

I once encountered a hunting momma scorpion with babies in gravel under a tree. I sprayed them down with the hose I was holding and the babies jumped onto momma's back and away they went. I received multiple stings in the ankles from about 2 or 3 feet, very painful but I did not pass out or die. Could have been prevented with tall leather boots and avoiding the trees.
-crofter

 

[crofter]

Don't get too discouraged about the bugs. Think how difficult for one of them to get in your rig. 

& to be sure complete your look with boots after dark.
-crofter

 

[LERCA]

I think what everyone is saying is there are serious critters everywhere (when I lived in DC there were cockroaches in the nicest houses and I was horrified-spent one whole day on the sofa in a bath towel for 8 hours till my boyfriend came home) some dangerous some not. But while you have to be aware and careful all of us are still alive so don’t let it stop you or your pets from enjoying our spectacular Southwest.

 

[Ravella and X]

Ohhh you wanna talk cockroaches... We gotta talk about Hawaii! They're so big and so plentiful and if you live in any kind of multi-unit property, youre going to have loads of them. I never, ever stopped squealing when dive-bombed or opening a cabinet or drawer to a nasty surprise.

I never was in DC though. I wonder if the population density is similar?

 

[user 30781]

ugh ugh ugh ugh roaches

I'm lucky. I have house centipedes and because I have them, I don't have ANY other kind of insect. All the houses along here have them as we're on rocky river bench, the one closest to the river, and they like rocky areas. The upstairs apartment though, they get sugar ants but no house centipedes. I guess the centipedes don't go upstairs. Yes they're big and they're FAST and they look scary as hell but they eat anything they can get their (legs?) on. Ants, spiders, roaches, even bedbugs. If my kid sees one and has a hissy fit about it, I'll catch it and let it go outside, otherwise I just leave them to their business. Unless it's on my bedroom wall, then it must go somewhere else. lol

My ex husband who lived about 5 miles from me and not near the river had a spider problem at his place, including black widows. I spent months capturing house centipedes when I saw one and taking them over to his house and letting them go. I think it did help some eventually. I have never seen anywhere with such a spider problem as the area where he lived.

 

[DonnaA]

Rattlesnakes stay underground untill temps get into the 80s or higher. In 8 years of winter boondocking in Arizona I've never seen one. I did catch a patch nosed snake once but they're harmless. Tarantulas are harmless and generally stay out of sight except during mating season in the fall. Huntsman spiders will come out during a good rain and climb any vertical surface to escape the water. They're big but generally harmless. Mice are the most annoying critters you'll encounter in the desert.

thanks for your information and story-good to know. - donna A

 

[DonnaA]

Lots of rattlesnakes here in the Pacific Northwest during the summer so I'm more careful here than in AZ. Had to move this one out of the way before getting on my bike. Ochoco Mountains.

thanks for your post-yes knew of them in Eastern WA for sure. thanks -appreciate it.

 

[DonnaA]

Was just thinking about seeing few things llike snakes, mice  and insects in my 6 month stay on Blm this fall, spring and winter. The coyotes hunt for those at night for food, mice eat insects as well as seeds. In the daytimes the birds are on patrol. There are aleays hawks, crows and other birds circling overhead hunting food such as insects, small snakes, lizards  and mice and the quail are on the ground in the washes looking for insects that nest there. Food is scarce in the desert so the predator species such as birds and coyotes do a very good job of controlling bugs, reptiles and rodents. I see lots of birds but almost never see any creepy crawlies because the birds are on the constant prowl for them.

good to know- thanks for taking time to post. donna A

 

[Malamute]

I had no idea scorpions were considered potentially fatal before it was posted here, so I looked it up. The money quote: "Two recorded fatalities have occurred in the state of Arizona since 1968; the number of victims stung each year in Arizona is estimated to be in the thousands".

That sort of puts it in perspective I guess.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_bark_scorpion


One interesting thing that turned up in looking up info, the vast majority of people stung by scorpions were in their home, so its probably more dangerous to stay home than go camping. At least thats how Im looking at it.

 

[DonnaA]

EDJ-thanks for the great insights and info- donnaA

 

[crofter]

...One interesting thing that turned up in looking up info, the vast majority of people stung by scorpions were in their home, so its probably more dangerous to stay home than go camping. At least thats how Im looking at it. 

So true. They have to find your camp, wheras they already know where your house is and are using it for free. People think these animals have such lesser intelligence, but scorpions have been on this planet much longer than humans, true survivors. 
-crofter

 

[JeanInaBox]

I saw large rabbits.... soon told they were called Hares.... AND that they have big teeth. Wondered why they didn’t seem as afraid as rabbits I’m used to. Lol


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[highdesertranger]

LOL

Highdesertranger

 

[hugemoth]

One critter to lookout for is the velvet ant, aka cow killers. It is said the sting is painful enough to kill a cow. I've seen several of them in the Quartzsite and Bouse area.