Be Careful, Arizona! Early Heat Means Rattlesnakes & Scorpions are OUT!

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service are already using words like heat dome, triple-digit temperatures, and record-breaking heat to describe our weather here in Arizona. If early Spring is this hot, the mind reels: what’s the summer going to feel like? Convection Oven, anyone??

Arizona’s already flirting with triple‑digit temps, and it’s barely spring. All of this early heat is waking up rattlesnakes and scorpions weeks ahead of schedule.

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Arizona Fish and Game (AZFGFD) says venomous activity is spiking months earlier than usual, and snake bites are running about double last year’s pace. Already this year, 237 scorpion stings have been reported in emergency rooms and treatment centers.

As someone who’s lived in Arizona long enough to know, when the desert warms up early, everything that crawls, slithers, or stings wakes up early, too.

READ MORE: Tarantulas, Rattlesnakes, Scorpions. Cochise County is Tough!

Overwintering to Conserve Resources: Brumation Versus Hibernation

Snakes and scorpions are both ectotherms. That means their bodies respond directly to environmental changes, like cold and hot weather. So, when the temperature drops, these creatures enter a state called brumation, a winter dormancy triggered by cold.

Brumation is similar to a mammal’s hibernation, where they enter a deep, continuous sleep to conserve resources during cold weather. Brumation in reptiles and amphibians is a lighter, intermittent form of dormancy.

Early Heat Means Early Encounters

What breaks this dormancy? The weather, of course, and when the temperature heats up, these animals wake up.

Record‑breaking March heat has nudged the rattlesnakes and scorpions out of dormancy and into our yards, garages, and hiking trails. The creepy-crawly season doesn’t usually kick off until April or May, but this year they’re already active across the state.

Rattlesnakes are especially active from March through October, and scorpions typically peak from April through October. This year’s heat wave moved that timeline up.

More Creepie Crawlies: The Difference Between a Centipede and a Millipede in Arizona

How to Avoid Getting Bit or Stung

That means rattlesnakes and scorpions are on the move. It’s important to stay vigilent and let kids know that they should be on the lookout for these critters. Here’s what you should do:

• Watch where you step and look before you reach. Most rattlesnake bites happen when someone accidentally surprises one, as the Cochise County Snake Guy learned the hard way. Stay on marked trails and avoid reaching into brush or dark crevices.
• Use a flashlight at night. Both rattlesnakes and scorpions are more active after dark.
• Keep your yard tidy. Remove debris, wood piles, and clutter where scorpions and snakes hide.
• Seal up the house. Scorpions can squeeze through tiny gaps—weather‑strip doors and seal cracks.
• Wear shoes. Always. Even quick trips outside can lead to surprise encounters. (Trust me on this one.)

Even experts can be surprised. Here's what happened to the Cochise County Snake Guy: The Story Behind 'The Snake Guy' And His Recent Snakebite

What To Do If You’re Bitten or Stung

Prevention is the best medicine, but if something should happen, don’t wait. Stay calm and get medical treatment immediately:

• Rattlesnake bite: Call 911 immediately and keep the limb still and below heart level. Don’t apply ice, cut the wound, or use a tourniquet.
• Scorpion sting: Call the Poison Control Center for guidance; severe symptoms require medical care.