Field Trip: Scorpions of the Tucson Mountains and Avra Valley
On June 22, 2019, Saguaro National Park West will host a morning presentation by esteemed scorpion expert Larry Jones, and when the sun goes down, you can join scorpion enthusiasts for a night of sightings.
IMPORTANT: To register for the FIELD TRIP, you must contact Saguaro National Park at 520-733-5158. Registration is not required for the morning presentation.
Presentation: 22 June 2019, 10:15 AM
- Special presentation by Larry Jones in the Saguaro National Park West Theater
- No sign-up or registration necessary
- Sponsors and Collaborators: Saguaro National Park West (SNPW), THS, Ironwood Forest NM (IFNM; BLM), Friends of IFNM, and Pima Co. Parks and Recreation
“During the past three years, I have studied scorpions of this area and amassed some 13,000 records of habitat and microhabitat use by six species of scorpions found in the area. I will discuss my research and give an overview of how to identify the species found there, as well as information on venom, precautions, and what to do if stung. Because this is also be a good area for snakes, we will have assistance from the Tucson Herpetological Society (THS) to look for the many interesting serpents of the Avra Valley, the area for the proposed I-11 corridor.”
Field trip (scorpions and any herps encountered): 22 June 2019
- Meet at 8:30 PM, in front of the Visitor’s Center (VC). We will end around 11:00 PM
- Sign-up by reservation only, through Saguaro NP 520-733-5158 (after announcement on website in mid-May). Do not sign up through THS!
- Bring: Headlamps/flashlights, black lights, water, snacks, water, close-focus binoculars, sturdy hiking boots, cell phone, and camera with zoom and/or macro lens.
First, we walk around VC, then caravan to Avra Valley. For those not wishing to do the whole thing, they can leave after the VC portion (but you’ll be missing out!)
This trip targets most species of scorpions in the area, but we also hope to see some of the native snakes.
