Dangerous things and animals in deserts ?

Hi !

Is there any dangerous animals that we propably meet in places like Death valley, Grand Canyon or elsewhere in Arizona (or New Mexico) ? I have read about rattlesnakes, scorpions, spiders. How common it is to meet one ?

Is there any medicin we should carry with us all the time in case of beeing bitten ?

What about other things, like tornados etc ? We are there in June.

We come from Finland, where we have no poisonous animals or no any nature catastrophes at all.

Dangerous things and animals in deserts ?

Very uncommon to see these if you stick to the hiking trails and don%26#39;t go looking for them. There are poisonous spiders, but many aren%26#39;t. Scorpions in Arizona (bark scorpions) are also not poisonous but are very, very painful.

No medicine necessary.

Tornadoes are virtually non-existent here. Flash floods, lightning and dust storms are somewhat of a concern in the summer, but there%26#39;s no reason to panic over them.

Dangerous things and animals in deserts ?

Encountering a snake would be the highlight of your trip.(If you arenot bitten of course).On numerous travels through the USA deserts and the Australian outback we just occasionally met snakes. Always wear sturdy shoes and never lift stones or rocks.You can see snakes, spiders and scorpions and many other animals in the unforgettable Sonora Desert Museum west of Tucson. An open air museum not to be missed. And the largest cactusses in the world in nearby Saguaro NP

We once saw a roadrunner battleling a small snake (from a distance) and all desertmovies came alive. But unfortunately not a big chance on meeting ';dangerous'; animals. We are waiting for years to see a mountain lion but no luck till now. Birdlife in the desert is fantastic. Bring your binoculars.

Tet

Thank you again !

Nice to know,not have to be afraid all the time...And thank you for the tip to go to Desert museum, it seems interesting.

I would say the most dangerous thing you will encounter is heat. Make sure you have and drink plenty of water, wear a hat and sunscreen and do not do lots of activity during the hottest part of the day. Temperatures in Death Valley can be over 100 degrees F, which is about 38 C. South Rim of the Grand Canyon, maybe high 80-90F.

You may encounter biting gnats and flies and they are just annoying.

As for the poisonous snakes, spiders and scorpions, yes they are there, but not usually in the main tourist areas. If you are hiking, just keep your eyes and ears open, wear sturdy shoes, long pants and have fun!

One word of caution. If you are hiking on any trails STAY on the trails!!

At least if there is anything there you will see it!

My family went hiking in NY State 2 years ago and I stepped off the trail to get a picture of a frog that hopped across our path.

I almost stepped right on a rattlesnake!! Thank goodness my daughter saw it and screamed to me before I put my foot down!

Staying on the Trails is great advice. I have lived here almost all of my life I have seen 3 rattle snakes 1 was dead 2 my dog kept me away from. But I go back country hiking alone with my dogs so I see more than most. I have only seen perhapse about 2 or 3 small scorpions only in Prescott and the White Mtn areas. If its sunny don%26#39;t go climbing on the rocks first thing in the am that is where the snakes like to warm up. They are cold blooded so they need to warm up. Spiders don%26#39;t worry. Just carry a tube of Benadryll cream/spray for itching and neosporin for and small bites/cuts.

I wouldn%26#39;t worry about it personally. The most dangerous things in Arizona are drivers between the ages of 18-40. LOL

And Death Valley is in California. Sandstorms can be a concern. The can damage your windshield enough that you can%26#39;t see to drive. There are usually sufficient warnings to allow you to safely get off the road, into a rest area or town (you don%26#39;t want to just pull off onto the highway shoulder as other drivers can follow you and not realize that you are pulling off of the road to stop).

Thank you again for very good advice !

I%26#39;m sure the heat is most dangerous to us people from cold North. We have very short summer (about 50 - 70 F), and it has not even started yet...So we try to keep us not burning ourselves !

Javelinas...but they%26#39;ll only probably chase you around for a bit.

And for the heat: SLIP-SLOP-SLAP (slip on a shirt--slop on sunscreen--slap on a hat. (There are some new posters who are not familiar with the slogan-lol-)

Tet