Scorpion season is an annual occasion for Arizona residents but they were caught off guard as the venomous species make roundabouts in the state a lot earlier than expected. Coming from their winter hibernation, the scorpions emerged in the midst of the early warm weather Arizona had been experiencing.
As reported by KTar.com early last March, snow in Arizona had been melting since February that had dragged down snow level to 18 percent. Because of this, scorpions came out from their hibernating period early and had been visiting homes at night in search for food and shelter.
Not all scorpions are venomous but the most dangerous of them all and the kind that can climb walls are called bark scorpions. Bark scorpions hunt for insects that usually seek refuge on houses. These scorpions are small but are easy to spot in the dark because of a coating in their exoskeletons that make their bodies glow. Most of the time, they stay on shoes and unfortunate humans who do not check the insides of their footwear before wearing it, get stung by the scorpion.
According to a primer released by the Arizona Cooperative Extension of the University of Arizona, a victim who got stung may experience severe pain such as numbness, breathing difficulty, muscle twitching, and convulsions. Deaths are a possibility but are not common.
"On average, the center and its counterpart in Phoenix log 12,000 reports of scorpion stings each year, though many more go unreported because people treat them at home. Children, older adults and those who are infirm are particularly vulnerable and should seek immediate help if they get stung," Dr. Boesen said to The New York Times.
"(Deaths) are rare - there was one in 2013 and another some 10 years earlier," he said.
In lieu of the scorpion season, the Arizona Cooperative Extension notes that the best way to drive away unwanted guests such as bark scorpions is to make the surrounding area of the family's home clean and unfriendly to pests.
