scorpion
Posted by Nycole Sanbo on August 27, 2005
Q: I just returned home to Canada from a vacation in Black Butte, Oregon. My last night there, we killed a scorpion in our rental home. It was white in color and about 3 inches long. Should I try to contact the owner of the home and warn them of its presence?
Habitat: forest/open woods
State: Oregon
Habitat: forest/open woods
A: People associate the Southwest part of the U.S. with scorpions but not the Northwest. Oregon does have a scorpion that is native to the area. My guess is that the owner of the home has seen scorpions before but it certainly wouldn't hurt to tell them about this one. Scorpion stings are similar to bee stings - they hurt but are usually not serious. Only one species found in Arizona is actually dangerous to humans.
Scorpions make good insect catchers but there aren't too many people that want them inside their homes to do this job. Next time you see a scorpion you might want to gently sweep it up into a wastebasket and put it outside.
Thanks for your asking.
John Wiessinger ( August 29, 2005)