by Candice Stark

Created on: March 02, 2008

We are located in Northern Nevada, about 63 miles NE of Reno, and in a rural area, So we are VERY familiar with Scorpions!

We have 6 children so when we moved here one of our concerns was, of course, Scorpions. With the older kids we would go collect them and they made them a little habitat out back in a large fish tank! But with the smaller ones, well lets face it, they do not know the Scorpions will hurt them until they get a little older!

The first and most important thing you have to do is make sure that there is nothing lying in your yard, such as pieces of wood, cardboard, anything that lays flat, including rocks, bricks and any decorative wood.

When we first planted our lawn here, my husband took the grass bag off of the lawn mower and left it laying on the ground, our 4 year old son (at the time) moved it one day and thank goodness I was right there because there was a Scorpion under it that was about 6" long, he reached for it and I scooped him up right away!

We poor bleach down our drains on a weekly basis, just about 2 tablespoons a week is all it takes to deter the pests from crawling up your drains and not harm the septic system! A couple years ago my husband was in the shower and one had come up the drain, small in size, about 2-3 inches and was hidden behind the curtain, it ended up stinging him on the toe and he said it felt like a constant burning for almost the whole day, it made him a little sick to his stomach for the day but he was fine. I have also learned that the transparent or green colored Scorpions are more poisonous while younger and smaller so they are the more hurtful ones to look out for.

Another thing we have found for inside deterrent's, we only sweep down the "daddy long leg" spider webs we do not kill them as they eat the other more dangerous pests, now there is the home insecticides, and having your house treated by an outside pest exterminator company, but we prefer to keep things as financially affordable and all natural as possible.

I also put Mothballs in my gardens and around my yard they don't seem to like the smell I guess, and it keeps the stray cats, rodents and other bugs from coming into the yard too.

Keeping your yard organized without having rubble, parts, movable decoration or any other objects that are not permanently stationary is the first and most important defense against those little stingers! Secondly, The mothballs in and around the gardens and landscaping helps well with Scorpions and more, and lastly about 1-2 tablespoons down the drains once a week keeps them from climbing the drains. And third, just for a suggestion, Birds like Guinea's and Peacocks are well known for eating Scorpions and snakes and even chasing off coyotes when need be, if that sort of pet is a possibility for you!

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