Scorpion mobility

Valveman · Aug 12, 2016

Scorpions are bad, but they rarely kill anyone. A new problem we have here in Texas is the Rattlesnakes no longer rattle and they have learned to climb trees. The wild hogs eat the snakes so they have learned to not make any noise, and to climb trees to get away from the hogs. This one is 8' off the ground in a live oak tree.

gwstang · Aug 12, 2016

Wow, that would really make for a bad day if it dropped out of the tree on to an unsuspecting hiker.

dalroo · Aug 12, 2016

That tree would have lead poisoning if on my property. Sheesh!

Pettrix · Aug 12, 2016

Valveman said:
Scorpions are bad, but they rarely kill anyone. A new problem we have here in Texas is the Rattlesnakes no longer rattle and they have learned to climb trees. The wild hogs eat the snakes so they have learned to not make any noise, and to climb trees to get away from the hogs. This one is 8' off the ground in a live oak tree.

Same here. All the rattlesnakes I have encountered, NONE of them ever rattled. I believe they are evolving to know that rattling means they give away their position and it ends in death. So the rattlers who DON'T rattle, end up living longer and reproduce.

They climb trees out here also. That's always the scary part since they can be well hidden in an oak or juniper tree.

CCWKen · Aug 12, 2016

I've never seen a rattler in the trees yet but I suspect they're hunting birds if the rodent population is low. The copperheads like shrubbery around here. They'll string themselves inside a young Huisache like Christmas tree garland. We used to be inundated with snakes until about 5-6 years ago. That's about the time we started having several pairs of Roadrunners take up residence around the property. So far, we've had them every year since and they're having young. The darn things will build nests in the oddest places--Over the picnic area, inside a 3-wall shed and in trees near the house. They don't seem afraid of people as long as you're walking slow. I've been out by the barn working on a tractor and have one walk right by me within a few feet. Sometimes they'll stand there for a while and watch you. And they aren't small birds either. They get pretty darn big. It gets creepy sometimes.

Pettrix · Aug 13, 2016

This is what you DO WANT around areas with rattlers. The bull/rat snakes will actually attack and kill rattlesnakes. Some idiots out here shoot ALL snakes which just creates huge rat & gopher population problems.

Pettrix · Aug 13, 2016

CCWKen said:
That's about the time we started having several pairs of Roadrunners take up residence around the property. So far, we've had them every year since and they're having young.

I wonder if Roadrunners kill rattlesnakes???

Garandman · Aug 13, 2016

And people wonder why we put up with 10' of snow in a season. Answer: no scorpions, no poisonous snakes, no beetles the size of baseballs, fewer hornets and wasps. And if you live near salt water mosquitos are rare.

I'll live with single digit temps because insects can't!

CCWKen · Aug 13, 2016

Garandman said:
And people wonder why we put up with 10' of snow in a season. Answer: no scorpions, no poisonous snakes, no beetles the size of baseballs, fewer hornets and wasps. And if you live near salt water mosquitos are rare.

I'll live with single digit temps because insects can't!

I put my time in on the North Coast. It's not bad when you're young and can enjoy it. I had my fill of the white stuff and the 2-month boating summers. We start planting in February and the growing season lasts nearly into January of the next year. Some years we may get one or two nights below freezing but by 9am, the frost is long gone and it's in the 50-60s. Life just seems to balance out. If we all liked the same weather, what a crowded place that would be.