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Scorpion Predators
Name: Sandra
Status: other
Grade: other
Location: WA
Country: N/A
Date: 5/31/2005
Question:
My son and his friends play air soft games in the canyon
behind our house. We have deer, a family of fox, and the natural
mice. We live in Clarkston Washington located on the Snake River at the
beginning of the Hells Canyon. I mentioned how this summer will be fun
for them and the friends that have lived here for several years swear
there are Rattle snakes (probably) and scorpion (?) that live in the
canyon. I hear Bull snakes will take care of the Rattle snakes, but what
will take care of the scorpion? I want to keep this as natural a process
as possible, while allowing my 8th grader and his friends a safe area to
run this summer break.
Replies:
Yes, there are scorpions and rattlesnakes in eastern Washington, but that
should not keep you from enjoying the outdoors. The best defense is to learn
to identify the potentially dangerous animals and plants, and where they
live and how to recognize and avoid them. There are predators of almost all
animals, but that won't help you if you encounter one. Bull snakes for
example will not "take care of rattlesnakes," its up to you to avoid them. A
good article on outdoor "threats" in Washington is at the following link to
the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Scorpion stings, by the way, are usually not
much worse than wasp stings. Rattlesnakes are potentailly more dangerous.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/116658_critters10_copy.shtml
J. Elliott
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Update: June 2012
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