The Arizona Bark Scorpion: Even Small Scorpions Can Pack Quite a Punch
- Desert Monsters Tours
- Sep 17, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 2, 2018
The Sonoran Desert in Arizona is home to the most venomous scorpion in all of North America. The Arizona Bark Scorpion is the only scorpion in the states that can be fatal to humans, although this is very rare. Hearing that, it’s easy to picture a large, intimidating scorpion but in reality these critters are at most only a few inches long.
Hikers in the desert, however, should be wary. Stings from a bark scorpion can cause a numbness or tingling around the affected area and can even lead to vomiting for those with serious reactions. The stings don’t go away quickly either, with symptoms lasting as long as three days from the time of the sting. If you are unlucky enough to be stung, it is recommended to wash the sting thoroughly with soap and water, apply a cool compress and take an ibuprofen. If it continues to worsen, seek medical treatment.
When you do come across a scorpion, however, they are incredible to see in the wild so don’t run away. In fact, many people actually seek out scorpions, with some even going so far as to capture them for collections. The bark scorpion is the only species in the American Southwest that can climb, so it can often be spotted on trees or walls, although most commonly it will be on the underside of rocks, hiding from the sun.
If you go out looking for scorpions at night, bring a black light. Arizona bark scorpions will glow under a blacklight, making them easy to spot. If you are seeking them out, this is far easier than searching for their well-camouflaged bodies in the daytime.
Arizona wildlife is one of the many unique things about our great state. When looking for things to do in Phoenix, there are hundreds of ways to get out into nature and experience the desert landscape for yourself. Whether hiking, mountain biking or driving ATVs, the incredible variety of plants and animals you will see is simply astounding.
This was a fascinating read! I liked the way the article points out that the Arizona bark scorpion is surprisingly small despite its reputation and explains why it deserves respect in the Sonoran Desert. It’s a good reminder that understanding local wildlife is an important part of exploring unfamiliar environments. I recently came across a similar outdoor and wildlife discussion on Go Collectiv and this added another interesting perspective.
This was a fascinating introduction to the Arizona bark scorpion. I had no idea these relatively small creatures could be such capable climbers, and the detail about them glowing under a black light was particularly interesting. The post does a nice job balancing the caution needed around wildlife with appreciation for the unique species found in the Sonoran Desert. I recently came across https://grandoaksorthodontics.com/ while reading another Arizona-related discussion, so this was a fun change of subject.
The Arizona Bark Scorpion is a small but highly venomous scorpion found Pokepath in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. Although its sting is rarely fatal, it can cause significant symptoms that may last for several days.