Snakes spiders and scorpions in the southwest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is a pack rat? Literally rats who travel in packs? How big are the packs?

No, they steal stuff to build their nests. They particularly like wiring. Sometimes they build their nest right in your car engine, which is a great reason to park your car in the garage every night. They are really aggravating. Have you never heard someone call another person a pack rat if they save lots of random stuff in a pile or closet? (Many toddlers do this — they collect small items throughout the house and keep it in a purse, toy car, etc — pack rat style).

[Anonymous]

We live in DC and a snake got into our rowhouse's English basement unit. It was chilling in the middle of our tenant's kitchen. Cute little baby garter snake, maybe 18 inches. I think it was lost.

We put it in the backyard, but it kept ending up in our basement apartment outdoor stairwell. I eventually relocated it to the nearby woods a few blocks from our house.

[Anonymous]

I’m from New Mexico. Seriously, it’s not at all an issue, bugs are way way worse out here on the east coast. I’ve seen way more bugs in the house in DC than I ever did back home. I think I saw a centipede once and a tiny scorpion once. I guess it depends on how rural the vacation house is, but even if you are camping all the time seeing a snake is not a common occurrence. They are scared of you, and will leave if they can hear you coming.

And for the record, New Mexico is a different animal than Arizona, as it’s high desert. Most of it has more in common with Flagstaff than Tucson, if that helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking at a vacation home in New Mexico. How serious is the possibility of encountering a snake, scorpion or tarantula in one’s home there? How do people live with this?

Where in the state specifically? And how far from the cities exactly?

[Anonymous]

Friends who live in areas of Texas and the Southwest that are prone to scorpions say they always check their shoes before putting them on, lest a scorpion may have crawled inside.

[Anonymous]

Likely, we got a plant from Hawaii once and weeks later found a lizard upside down in the corner of our living room near the plant! I hate snakes so finding a look alike in my living room was a shocker :-0 yike!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in DC and a snake got into our rowhouse's English basement unit. It was chilling in the middle of our tenant's kitchen. Cute little baby garter snake, maybe 18 inches. I think it was lost.

We put it in the backyard, but it kept ending up in our basement apartment outdoor stairwell. I eventually relocated it to the nearby woods a few blocks from our house.

i dont find any snake cute or charming....terrifying at every sight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in AZ and occasionally saw tarantulas in the yard. Never saw a snake but we weren’t out in the raw desert. Bigger issues was occasional scorpion inside the house - I still shake out my shoes every time I put them in even though I live in DC now. Same with my bath towel - always shake it out before using it.

Yes, shake shoes out before putting them on—-every time.

I live in the Bay Area and do that because my daughter once had one of those lizards in her shoe and put it on, then realized and took it off in the car and the lizard was running around the car. (we keep our shoes in the garage) The little lizards don't scare me, but I really didn't appreciate it in my car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes this is a real possibility. My IL's used to live in Tucson and had issues with all 3 getting into the house. I live in SoCal and we have snake issues.

No, you have mice issues.

Not true. You clearly don't know southern California, where snakes are prevalent.

DP. You do get more snakes if there are rats and mice to feed on. My friend in Los Feliz had to get rid of the ivy in her yard that the rats were living in. A large rattlesnake had frightened her kids while playing basketball nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m from New Mexico. Seriously, it’s not at all an issue, bugs are way way worse out here on the east coast. I’ve seen way more bugs in the house in DC than I ever did back home. I think I saw a centipede once and a tiny scorpion once. I guess it depends on how rural the vacation house is, but even if you are camping all the time seeing a snake is not a common occurrence. They are scared of you, and will leave if they can hear you coming.

And for the record, New Mexico is a different animal than Arizona, as it’s high desert. Most of it has more in common with Flagstaff than Tucson, if that helps.

What about Taos?

[Anonymous]

I lived in Tucson for 7 years. Saw all those creatures there but never in the house. I lived right in central Tucson near the University.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Likely, we got a plant from Hawaii once and weeks later found a lizard upside down in the corner of our living room near the plant! I hate snakes so finding a look alike in my living room was a shocker :-0 yike!

Lizards eat a ton of insects and are good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Likely, we got a plant from Hawaii once and weeks later found a lizard upside down in the corner of our living room near the plant! I hate snakes so finding a look alike in my living room was a shocker :-0 yike!

Lizards eat a ton of insects and are good luck.

Op. I could deal with lizards. They are cute. I’ve seen them everywhere in Florida nbd. Snakes, scorpions, spiders on the other hand…