Our homes are the places we go to relax and rejuvenate. In our homes we seek peace and serenity. That peace can be shattered when a wild animal decides to move in. While squirrels, racoons, bats, mice and rats are the most common home invaders in Arizona some of the most worrisome home invaders also include rattlesnakes, scorpions and black widow spiders.
When homeowners attempt to remove these invaders, especially the more lethal ones, the results are often less than satisfactory and can even result in injury and death.
It’s gravely important that you contact a wildlife removal company if you encounter dangerous animals in or around your home.
They can be removed safely and humanely, without putting your family at risk.
Dangerous Arizona Wildlife
Snakes
The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, for example, can grow to seven feet long and can strike an unsuspecting homeowner who gets within 3 to 4 feet of the snake. The bite of the snake can cause a heart attack. While 8,000 people are bitten by rattlesnakes every year only 10-15 will die from the attack.1
Like many animals, snakes look for warm places to coil up in cool weather and cool, dark and sheltered places to rest in warm weather. Rattlesnakes try to avoid people, so they usually gravitate to garages, barns, sheds and other less busy areas of property.
When you discover a snake on your property, professional wildlife and snake removal services can handle the situation safely and humanely, giving you peace of mind at the very least, without putting yourself in danger.
Scorpions
Arizona is host to 60 types of scorpions, including one of the most venomous species found in North America – the Arizona Bark Scorpion.2 As the name implies, this species of scorpion likes living in and around trees. It is yellowish-tan and has small pincers and a slender, long curved tail. It may have a striped pattern.
Because they can climb vertical surfaces homes are not off limits to these invaders which rarely cause death but can cause painful swelling, muscle spasms, paralyzed extremities and breathing difficulty. Swift medical attention is the best course of action if a homeowner is bitten by this or any other species of scorpion, especially if a young child or an elderly person is bitten.
Scorpions are nocturnal and prefer dark, sheltered, undisturbed spaces like crawl spaces, inside shoes or in kitchen cabinets and pantry areas.
Black Widows
Black widow spiders also call Arizona home. The Western Black Widow Spider is rated as highly venomous.3 Approximately 2,500 people are bitten by this spider each year in the United States.4 The pain from the bite is extremely painful but antivenom can relieve it and few people die from black widow spider bites.
They may experience muscle spasms, cramps, excessive perspiration, respiratory problems and nausea. The female Western Black Widow has a glossy black body with a distinctive red hourglass marking on its underside and the male spider has shade of gray or light brown mixed with the black coloring. The male’s hourglass pattern is more orange than red.5
In both the males and females the hourglass marking may be yellow or even white. Black widow spiders are nocturnal by nature and try to avoid interactions with humans. They are commonly found in dry and undisturbed locations near ground level including garages, sheds, woodpiles, patio furniture, BBQ grills, toys and yard debris.
These types of wildlife require a professional wildlife removal specialist to ensure that the home’s occupants are not harmed and that steps are taken to keep the wildlife from returning. Stay tuned to next month’s article on ways to prevent these and other wildlife from invading your home.
Schedule Wildlife and Critter Removal in Scottsdale
At Critter Evictors in Scottsdale, we specialize in humane, thorough wildlife removal backed by proper exclusion and repair. If you’re dealing with unwanted critters in your home or on your Maricopa County property, don’t wait until the problem gets worse. Contact us today and let our trained technicians solve the issue the right way the first time with a plan to help keep unwanted wildlife from coming back. Schedule your Free inspection today.
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1, 4 The 7 Scariest Home-Invading Animals Around the World by Drew Wood, 7/9/2024
Link: https://a-z-animals.com/animals/lists/home-invading-animals/
2 10 Species of Scorpions in Arizona (with Pictures)
Link: https://wildlifeinformer.com/scorpions-in-arizona/
3, 5 Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus), by Richard J. Pearce, PhD, 11/13/2023
Link: https://wildlifeinformer.com/scorpions-in-arizona/