Thought Spiders Were Bad? Arizona Brings the Nightmare Fodder

When I was a kid, spiders freaked me out. A Daddy long-legs would send me squealing and running in the opposite direction, and I would beg someone, anyone, to get rid of it.

Then I moved to Arizona. Turns out, spiders are just the opening act in this desert freak show.

Here's Something to Ponder: Tarantulas, Anyone?

Something strange began to happen. With every new and strange bug, insect, arachnid, and snake, I learned something, and in that learning, I gained the patience to know when I should actually freak out.

Did you know Arizona has thirty species of tarantulas? They’re the size of your hand, covered in hair, and start walking the earth in earnest during tarantula mating season.

Here's another super weird creature you can find in Arizona: Why Gardeners Hate the Mexican General Grasshopper

Here’s the kicker: they’re not even that dangerous. Their bite is about as bad as a bee sting, and they’d rather ghost you than fight you. Still, I don’t care how “docile” they are. I can admire one from afar, but I'm absolutely not picking one up.

Scorpions, Why So Mad, Little Dude?

The next creature keeping my nightmares fresh is the Arizona bark scorpion. Unlike the mildly painful tarantula, the hostile little bark scorpion is the most venomous scorpion in North America.

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These terrifying little nightmares flatten themselves to fit under doors and glow under blacklight like they’re headed to a rave. Their sting? Imagine being electrocuted by a cactus. They're even more dangerous if you're a little person or a small animal. If you're stung, you will probably want to seek medical attention.

Not all heroes wear capes. Read this: Mouse vs. Scorpion: Who Wins Deadly this Arizona Matchup?

Rattlesnakes: The Real Nope Rope

Let this one sink in: Arizona is home to 15 species of rattlesnakes. The Mojave rattlesnake is the real fuel for your nightmares. Its venom is neurotoxic and hemotoxic, which is science-speak for “it'll mess you up real bad.”

Give these guys a WIDE berth. Look before you step, sit, move brush piles, walk....you get the idea. They usually give you a warning rattle before they ruin your day, but it doesn't hurt to keep your eyes peeled and your senses sharp. They don't want to hurt you, but they will defend themselves.