Rescuing A Desert Scorpion With Shovel For Transport To Creosote Shade Safety

It's warming up again and the scorpions are getting more active out here in the desert. I had been doing an experiment with this rain water catchment tarp whereby I let it say out in the elements longer to see how it would hold up. Needless to say, the longer it was there, the more used to it the wildlife got. When I finally decided to fold it up and get it in the shade, there were a lot of underground dwellings below it.

I was careful and quick in getting the tarp detached so I could fold it up, but I was mainly concerned about ant bites and stings, little did I know just a few feet and hopefully never inches away, was this full size scorpion. Luckily as I started moving the tarp, expecting lizards, spiders, ants, and maybe snakes, I was able to see the scorpion and neither get to close or harm it in any way. It quickly scurried to get back under the cover of the tarp. I dashed to grab a shovel so I could rescue and relocate it to the safety and shade of a nearby creosote shrub. Again, luckily when I got back about a minute later with the shovel I was able to find it again. Otherwise I'd be worried for both of us. Now that the tarp was loose, I had to fold it up and put it away otherwise it would surely start blowing away.

Keeping safe distance I carefully scooped it into the shovel and kept the shovel low to the ground as it crawled its way off the shovel several times. I eventually got it into the shade a fair distance away. I always say, every year it's a new experience of encountering the first scorpion of the season. I'm blessed to have a few months of carefree times while their avoiding the cold and staying underground. But once they remind me of their presence as it heats up, they own the ground at night, and they are a cause for caution at all hours.