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This summer will be our 5th summer in southern, AZ (2 hours south of Greg). We moved here
June 2nd 2001.
That was one of my concerns before moving here since I could be alone and a scorpion could
climb all over me and possibly bite w/o me knowing it.
And worry abt my dog too.
But I'm glad to say we have seen NONE in all that time. And we don't spray.
The scariest thing that HAS happened with a dangerous desert animal was when I strolled to a nearby park
during the day. Small park next to the desert in 3 directions. Only one mom & her 2 kids were there on
the play equipment.
I had JUST come from the grassy area of the park and then came back to the pavillions, play area & exit when
the mom said "Hey Johnny...look at the baby Havalena." Havalenas are essentially wild boars (or pigs) who'd love
to shred a dog apart. I'd never seen one so I turned and looked. I was only maybe 30 short feet from it.
It was sniffing the bush my dog had only minutes before! They are nocturnal (night-time) animals so dunno
what he was doing up in the park in the daytime.... although dusk was 45 minutes away.
I looked for 2 seconds and split since I was alone with my dog. As I began rolling down the exit
road my hubby was just driving in with my van. I got in and we drove the lil ways to the small
parking lot so I could really LOOK at one. But he was gone.
I asked my husband how dangerous that was and he said that maybe the baby was harmless but
where there is baby ... mama & papa aren't far behind!
The ongoing housing construction around here (1000s of homes & subdivisions) is forcing desert animals out of their 'already smaller' desert habitats around here as well (havalenas, coyotes, bobcats, etc)
My husband was out this Sunday morning and came racing home to get me to see a Gila Monster in the wild. (wild -
meaning not in a museum or on tv). He was sunning himself in the median of a busy road!
Even HE had not seen one live & up-close. But it was too late when we got there :-(
We hoped he didn't get hit crossing the road as they are rather slow. So either he did
make it or someone got him to take back safely to the desert.
THEY are the only poisonous lizard. We see all kinds of "other" little lizard dudes everywhere (salamander-size usually)
Fast dudes!
Lori
-------Original Message-------
Date: 05/31/05 10:21:41
Subject: [QUAD-L] Scorpion
Well, I've been in AZ for almost a full year and just now found my first Scorpion. Our dog was playing with something right next to my side, then jumped up and yelped. I looked down and walking a foot from me was a scorpion on the rug in the TV room. We took the dog in to get antivenom and she is fine. Never thought I'd find one inside on the floor.
Greg
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