I was stung by a scorpion in my sleep the other night. This was the 5th or 6th time since 1999 I have been stung in my sleep by a scorpion crawling in the sheets. There are many upsides and positive aspects to living in Austin, but the scorpions might be viewed as a negative by most people.
Scorpions seem to like me for some reasons, as I’ve been stung 5 or 6 times now, all while sleeping. Sylvia has been stung 2 or 3 times. Our kids have never been stung by a scorpion but my youngest daughter did get stung by a centipede when she was 6 years old, which was a harrowing, nightmarish scene that night. The centipede, which I captured with kitchen tongs, was 8″ long and about 1.5″ thick – the biggest I’d ever seen. It struggled so violently to escape the tongs that I freaked out and flushed it down the commode. Normally I would have released it far from the house.
This is par for the course living in a rural “country” neighborhood as we do in Oak Hill. We have a large wooded acreage lot that backs up to undeveloped land, so we see a lot of wildlife around the house including deer, squirrels, birds, snakes, spiders, scorpions, etc. We constantly find scorpions in the house and toss them outside, especially in the summer.
So, what is it like being stung by a scorpion? In a word, painful. It’s a sharp, piercing burning sting, similar to a wasp or yellow jacket sting, but worse. Imagine a sharp hot needle being poked into your skin and left there as the searing pain slowly spreads outward.
The good news is that the pain does usually goes away within 20 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, for me at least, it hurts more than a severe burn. I have a friend who claims to have gone into sweats and hallucinations after being stung multiple times while pulling on a pair of jeans with that had a scorpion inside the pant leg. Your pain and reaction may vary.
So what does a groggy Realtor, writhing in pain, say to the scorpion who stung him at 4AM?
I cornered him near the pillow, with a drinking glass and piece of cardboard in hand, and whispered. “Hey there little fella. Don’t worry. I don’t take it personally. Come on, let’s get you outside where you belong”. I scooped him into the glass, walked him to the furthest rear part of the property and tossed him out into the woods.
My friends say “why don’t you squash the darned thing?”
We don’t kill scorpions, or any other creatures that invade our home. We take them back outside, including the momma scorpion who was once walking through our kitchen with a gazillion little babies on her back. That’s a real creepy sight.
Personally, I think it’s bad luck to kill a scorpion. I wouldn’t feel right doing so, and I encourage others to respect all creatures. We built our house in their spot, so we can be flexible about such intrusions. We don’t treat our house with pesticides, so it’s just something we accept, that the critters are going to get inside now and then.
But why the scorpions like to get into beds, and sting me in particular, is a mystery to me. Maybe it’s because I roll over more often during the night while Sylvia and the kids remain more stationary. It’s always while rolling over I get stung, as the scorpion’s defense mechanism against being crushed must kick in. Otherwise I don’t think they really mean to seek out and sting humans.
Other places they like to nestle is in piles of laundry, behind boxes in the garage, wood piles and rock piles outside. Anywhere dark and out of the way, though it’s interesting that they do occasionally walk right across the living room or kitchen floor in broad daylight.
So, if you’re moving to Austin and want a nice place outside the city limits, on an acre or two in the country, you must accept that unless you want to nuke your home AND YARD with pesticides and poisons, you are going to have occasional encounters with scorpions, spiders and snakes. Interestingly, we have no ant problems, probably because the spiders and scorpions prey upon them, so there is an upside after all.
More on Scorpions at Wikipedia.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Seeing as how you’ve been stung 6 times, I think either killing a scorpion might be good luck, or they have learned they can sting you with impunity. Insects reproduce exponentially and you need not worry about terminating a few (or a lot). I would also be willing to wager that there are more scorpions on your property now then before you built the house.
We built our house in their spot, so we can be flexible about such intrusions. We don’t treat our house with pesticides, so it’s just something we accept, that the critters are going to get inside now and then.
****
After the post about the dog, I wasn’t expecting you to be the kind of person that has the above attitude, but I’m glad to know you are! I think we should all respect the animals and insects around us as most of them were here first. Living in the city, I have only come across one scorpion in my house and he was a tiny little guy.
Living with the occasional snake or scorpion is part of life in the Hill Country, and it’s good to know some people accept it as a way of life! Thanks for blogging about it.
Hi Julia,
Oh gosh, let’s not reopen the loose dog blog! But thanks for your comment.
Steve
Steve
I appreciate your resistance to pesticides. However, as a engineer, I am not going to place myself or my family through suffering of insect bites.
I strongly suggest you hire a TX licensed pest control professional and proceed with the eradication. The toxins carried by insects can and will injure youngsters. You live in Oak Hill and your area, like mine, is growing. This pushes the insects into our homes. My pest control specialist commented that the growth on Slaughter Lane will force insects into established areas of houses and animals.
We are the top of food chain for now. I won’t tolerate the pain or worse, the pain of children suffering.
Call me weak but I think it is important to keep our families safe.
I am a pragmatic consulting engineer and I am tasked with solving problems. Sorry, but smaller painful insects don’t do well in my arena.
We moved out to far South West Austin – almost to Driftwood, 2 years ago and we have had our fair share of scorpion run ins – surprisingly no stings yet even thought our daughter was still crawling then. I called Aztec Organic Pest Service when we first moved out here to see what I could do to remove them from my house and the guy who came out said “lady you live on 5 acres of scorpion habitat you better just get used to it”. I have had lots of advice – put your bed’s legs on bowls of water and never let your blankets touch ground etc. I think just wear shoes and shake out your clothes is probably the best I can do! I am going to start checking my bed though.
I’m not a bug killer either – but I would like to get rid of the dang chiggers!!! Any tips for that?
Justine
Scott said: “I strongly suggest you hire a TX licensed pest control professional and proceed with the eradication. The toxins carried by insects can and will injure youngsters.”
The toxins in the pesticides can and will injure your youngsters as well, and your pets. If you’re going to do pest control, definitely at least go the organic route, not chemical stuff. Use the Chem-Free company or someone similar.
We’ve been thinking of buying some land and building a house in south Austin, but now, after reading this, I’m inclined to stay away from land infested with scorpions and chiggers and snakes.
I live in Pflugerviille and for 10 years now have never seen a scorpion. We have friends who live in DS and they’ve had several encounters with scorpions and rattle snakes. In fact, most stories of encounters with scorpions come from people who live in that part of Austin. Is it worse in Oak Hill/ Dripping Springs/ Driftwood area?
I strongly suggest you get rid of your scorpions as my granddaughter was stung by a bark scorpion when she was four and she died in the helicopter on the way to the hospital. Fortunately the paramedics were able to revive her but her heart had stopped beating and she stopped breathing! Please be very careful as these scorpions are more deadly than you realise.
Responding to Gary who mentioned the bark scorpion. Yes, those are I think the most venomous species in the states. However, to my knowledge they are only in AZ and CA, specifically the Sonoran desert. They are not in Austin. I don’t know of any species in Austin that’s dangerous to humans (in that death could occur) under NORMAL circumstances.
My wife retired and moved to Austin to be with grand children. We lived in Wyoming for 39 1/2 years. Austin is very different than Wyoming, where we enjoyed all the time. We find snakes, scorpions, and long array of other Arthropods. Living here in Austin has been really chalanging. Found skunk trapped by the side of bathtub when house was constructed.
It has been very different experience than Wyoming. My wife does not like it. We really do not like living in Austin area because of these problems. Instead of enjoying life we end up spending lot of time in finding ways to combat these unwanted guests.
Well such is life in Austin.
Scorpions drop off the ceiling, too, so looking in shoes, covers, etc. helps but nothing makes you totally safe. My record here in Dripping is killing 8 in 3 days in my house. Growing up, I remember sitting in one house and just looking around at so many that I decided to start counting them. Some years they are bad and some, like this year, not so bad (inverse to fire ants). Even so, with checks of bed and walls and shoes from May to October or so I have only been stung twice in 52 years. I am luckier (more diligent with my checks) than most. They aren’t aggressive and cannot see well at all. When you smack ‘em, smack ‘em really hard and dead on coz they’re hard to kill. Fast, too, so you might get only one chance before they are gone.
i used to live in austin a long time ago. back then, it was out in the country, it’s grown so much, it’s not anymore, had an acre of land out there, and we too, found our fair share of scorpions, (tho not as many as when we lived out by the lake, those apts. were bad, and we found them almost on a daily basis out there) i don’t need the hate mail, but we’d get them in an empty jar and put them in the freezer, and then when we’d get really bored, (as kids do) we’d take them out and let them thaw, and they will come back to life, a lil lathargic at first, but trust me, after bein frozen solid for a month or more at a time, they get real angry, real fast. what can i say, i was young…
i’ve also been stung by 1 before, at the house not far from pflugerville, (the 1 with the acre of land) i saw it on the kitchen floor where my son, who was about 2 years old at the time, was near by, i rushed over and scooped up my son, and i must’ve brushed my foot along the floor or something, cuz it got me, GOOD! and it stung like nothing i had ever been stung like before. i’m only thankful it got me instead of my son. i still remember that pain to this day, and it was well over 20 years ago, since that happened. i remember the tons of fire ants we had out there as well. i love austin, but i don’t miss all the critters they have there. i live in iowa now, and the worst thing i have to put up with now, (aside from the manure bein spread in the spring, peeewwww, is fruit flies, i think… no roaches, no scorpions, (altho we do get spiders and i don’t care for them much) but i’ve never seen any black widow ones up here, and my sister kept them in jars with lil name tags in front of them when we were teens back in austin, (yeah, needless to say, we didn’t share a room for long) crazy chick she was… but that’s a whole nother story, lol no fireants, no rattle snakes, kinda peaceful here, oh yeah, and no chiggers, we do get dear ticks tho and lyme disease ya have to really watch out for, but there’s ticks in austin too, sooooo maybe i’ll just visit thre when i can and then i don’t have to worry about the critters up here. thanks for letting me share and yall stay safe, seriously
We built our house in their place !? Well, we grow crops in rats and mice places too………and they destroy 1000′s of tons of food each year, and carry disease and kill people.
C’mon….acceptance of insects and the like in our home is ludicrous.
I kill every one I see in my house, and I will do my best to eradicate them completely.
I then suppose roaches and fireants are ok too?
I live SE of Austin, near Lockhart and kill 2-3 a day, yes a day!! Hammers work great and I actually go out hunting at night for them. The only way to really combat them is to knock down their numbers. When we first moved here about a year ago, I was killing at least a doz a day. Maybe by this time next year it will only be one or two here or there. They do get in the house, somehow, someway and I’m not taking a chance with a toddler. Sorry, but they are not getting past me. Yes, I live in the country and yes, it is their territory, but I paid good money for this land and I’m not sharing!! I have a self sustaining farm/garden and do far, far more for my land than the damage of killing the scorps, lol.
Put your bed legs in a mason jar, they can’t crawl up the glass and it will keep them out of your bed. Be sure none of your pillows are touching the wall either and of course blankets off the floor.
I collect and sometimes breed scorpions. I am not the only one. If you would like to get rid of your scorpions, email me, and I will pick up LIVE ones. They will be well taken care by us scorpion enthusiasts. I also have a Black Light flashlight, which makes there exoskeletons glow (fluoresce). If anyone has a major problem, and would like me to come out to your yard at night when it is warm, I will be more than happy to clear out what I find for you.
Keep in mind however, you live in Texas. Scorpions live in ALL parts of Texas, most of the country actually, but don’t tell that to people in Idaho! They are an important part of our ecosystem, and yes, they eat roaches. So go ahead people, kill them all off. See what you get in return! Sometimes, leaving good enough alone is best of all.
Fyi, we only have 2 species of scorpions here in C. Texas. One is a rare species I won’t mention here, as it is unlikely you will ever see one and their venom is harmless. The other one, is Centruroides vittatus. Neither of our local species can kill a healthy adult. I don’t believe they can kill kids or the elderly either, unless they have major medical problems, or are one of the ONE IN BiLLIONS that are actually allergic to them.
It’s a rare event indeed. The last healthy individual who died from a scorpion in the U.S. was over 20 years ago, and that one isn’t a local species, but a relative of it. You are more likely to have your child eaten by a Labrador Retriever. If you don’t believe me, google it.
Nomadinexile@hushmail.com ryan
Btw, the local C. vittatus is rated a 2.5 out of 5 on the venom list of scorpions. Square in the middle of the pack. As a counter example, one of the most venomous scorpions we know of, P. transvaalicus from Africa, which rates a 5 of 5 btw, only cause 10% of adults stung to go to the hospital. NONE DIE! It does kill .3% of children and elderly it stings., but again, this is one of the most dangerous scorpions in the world!
If you get stung by a local C. vittatus, and you have no major medical concerns, suck it up and take an advil if you wish. It might hurt, but it’s not going to kill you. You shouldn’t need hospitalization either. You get a pain and a story to tell your friends. That’s it.
**If you ever have shortness of breath, have chest pains, or break out in an obviously allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention. You will know….
Almost forgot to add this! You can’t kill your way out of scorpions in C. TX. You are surrounded by them. Think of it like rush hour traffic. You ever see an open lane? Maybe for a second or two. Then it’s filled in by a car that sees a hole. Scorpions do the same thing. When you kill them, you are only killing one of ten first off, secondly, there is a pair trying to fight for turf, and you just killed the scorpion that was keeping that one away. They just fill up the open lane. The best you can do is to better seal your house. I have heard lots of “home remedies” online, but I think they are mostly old wife’s tales. About the only place you can live without scorpions in the U.S. is the great lakes region, and alaska. You can move there if you want, but I’ll take Austin thank you very much!
Cats can, and will, kill scorpions. It’s a shame, I know. Better than your boot though, and more effective than you trying to catch and stomp them, as well.
Hey!
I just thought I would add that Houston is virtually scorpion-free. I have never, ever seen one here, and my Dad is the only person I have ever heard of seeing one here, and that was at a time when he had received a shipment of stone from Arizona, so I figure it probably snuck in with that stuff. So, I wouldn’t say all of Texas. I have been looking into places I could live in the Austin area, and liked Cedar Park or Georgetown until I remembered that little problem. I am TERRIFIED of scorpions. Perhaps closer to the city I would be better off.
Just move into town. We’ve lived in central austin for 16 years without seeing one scorpion. The only tarantula we’ve seen was in Georgetown. It seems that the scarier wildlife, and even the deer, avoid the most populous areas.
Are you serious Shirley Martin that there are tarantula in Georgetown. We just moved out here toward Russel Park. Where exactly did you see it at? I have a little ones and we have been seeing scorpions like crazy? Anyone knows which kind of scorpion it would be? tail is two inches long and wierd reddish brown same color as our concrete stained floors. I am allergic to wasps scared my kids may be to critters also!
Hey Kendra. There are Tarantulas in Georgetown. They are from the Genus Aphonopelma. They are mildly venomous, like a bee. You should only ever see one at night, and then only very rarely, unless you are lifting up rocks, logs, or other debris. They are not aggressive, but will bite if harassed. If your children are old enough, show them pictures online, and tell them not to touch them. If you don’t try and grab them, they won’t bite.
As for the scorpions, you have two species in the Georgetown area. One is Psuedouroctonus reddelli, named for a UT professor. The P. reddelli are generally around 2″-3″ as adults. They are a maroon red to black color. There venom is very mild. Less than your average bee. They are defensive though if cornered, otherwise they will run and hide.
The other local species is Centruroides vittatus, known as the Striped Bark Scorpion. This is a buthid species. It’s venom is not known to ever cause fatalities, however, it is sometimes extremely painful depending on who you ask. This scorpion is more of a tan yellow, and will have broken stripes running down its back. These are the most commonly found scorpions in your area. Do not ever swat at one. I don’t care if it’s on your head. It should be pushed from the side with an object, not your hand. They are easily directed into a cup where you can remove it to a safe location away from your house.
As for your allergy, this is a bit of a concern, as there seems to be some correlation between allergies to bees, wasps, and arachnids. I don’t know at what percent, but as far as I know, an allergy for one at least increases your risk of being allergic to the others. If this is your situation, I would recommend consulting a doctor, and explaining the situation. I would also consider asking him to get you an Epi pen and explaining when and how to use it. There are some contradictions when using an Epi pen in conjunction with an arachnid sting, so get educated about it. But when it really comes down to it, IF you are having an allergic reaction to the venom, it would be better to use it than not. Outside of the allergic though, there is no life threatening danger from any Texas arachnid, with the lone exception of one scorpion that is very rarely dangerous but can be, in a very small area of the state close to Big Bend N.P.
Good luck!
I have been stung several times, and to describe it as a bee sting or ant bite is like saying Pikes Peak is a foot hill. The burn lasts a looooonnnnngggg time. Ice works great! but as soon as you remove the ice, the pain is still there. I have applied bleach to the sting, and the pain goes away immediately.
Hey J.R. If you are talking about the Centruroides vittatus, then yes, it is more painful than a bee sting for most people. Keep in mind, that scorpions can control how much venom they release, so some people will not experience the same effects. But a full shot from C. vittatus, or the Striped Bark Scorpion, can be extremely painful. The good news, is that it is not medically significant. If you are not allergic, there should be no reason to visit a doctor. Your best bet is to ice it, grin and bare it, and tell all your friends how tough you are. Getting stung by one WILL impress your northern relatives.
On the other hand, a full envenomation from P. reddelli, which I’ve experienced, is not what I’d call painful. More like a sweat bee. After 5 minutes of the worst sting I took from one, I couldn’t even remember which hand I had been stung on!
Different species of scorpions have different venoms and effects. Interestingly, one of the most dangerous species in the world from Iran, is almost painless. Many people don’t know they’ve even been stung until they are experiencing dangerous scorpionism. Good thing those aren’t in Hill Country!
-Ryan
Thanks everyone for your comments. I’m learning a lot. The last sting was my 13 year old daughter, on her finger, reaching into a laundry basket. She applied baking soda and water and it stopped hurting after about 15 minutes.
It was her first “sting” since the giant centipede got her years ago, and to her it was no big deal. We since moved (last month) to a city home and haven’t seen a scorpion in the new home, and I doubt we ever will. We’ll miss our 11 years in the “country”, on large acreage lots, but the convenience of being closer in is so nice.
Steve
{ 1 trackback }