If you live in Missouri Springs, you may have spotted a scorpion near a rock pile in your yard. Maybe you found one in your garage or basement. It is unsettling, to say the least.
People across the country turn to trusted local services for help, just like residents rely on Pointe Pest Control to handle pest problems close to home.
Here in Missouri Springs, more and more homeowners are asking the same question: why do scorpions keep showing up? The rocky landscape around our city has a lot to do with it.
The Scorpions Found Around Missouri Springs.
Missouri is home to three scorpion species. These are the striped bark scorpion, the northern scorpion, and the northern desert hairy scorpion. The striped bark scorpion is the most common one.
It is yellowish to light brown in color with two dark stripes running down its back. This species tends to travel more than the others while searching for food.
Missouri Springs sits at a higher elevation than the scorpion-heavy areas in southeastern Missouri. But that does not mean residents here are completely safe.
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Scorpions are tough and adaptable. They survive in deserts, grasslands, wooded areas, and rocky foothills. Our city has all of these environments within or right around it.
Why Scorpions Love the Rocky Terrain Around Our City.
Rocky ground gives scorpions everything they need. Loose rocks, boulders, and stone piles create natural hiding spots. During the day, they stay tucked under rocks and inside crevices to stay cool and out of sight.
Colorado Springs has plenty of this kind of landscape. Areas near Garden of the Gods, Cheyenne Canyon, and the rocky westside neighborhoods are ideal scorpion territory. These spots offer shade, shelter, and easy access to insects, which is exactly what scorpions eat.
Scorpions hunt at night. If your yard has standing water, bright lights, or rock and wood piles, you are drawing both insects and scorpions in.
How Scorpions Get Inside Your Home.
Scorpions mostly prefer to stay outdoors. But they do wander inside, especially during hot summers or when food runs low. Summer is when scorpion sightings increase the most in Missouri Springs.
They get inside through small gaps under doors, torn window screens, and cracks in the foundation. They can also hitch a ride on firewood or outdoor furniture brought inside.
Once indoors, they head straight for dark and quiet spots. Basements, garages, closets, and crawl spaces are common hiding places. They have also been found tucked inside shoes and folded clothing.
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A sting from a local Missouri scorpion is painful but usually not life-threatening for healthy adults. It can cause burning, swelling, and numbness. Children and elderly individuals may experience stronger reactions, so it is worth taking the risk seriously.
Simple Steps to Keep Scorpions Away.
There are real things you can do to protect your home. Start by moving rock piles, firewood stacks, and yard debris away from your house. Keep your grass short and trim back any overgrown plants near the foundation.
Seal gaps around doors and windows using weather stripping. Fill cracks along your foundation and around pipes with caulk. Add door sweeps to all exterior doors. These are small changes, but they close off the entry points scorpions use to get inside.
Cutting off their food supply also helps. Fixing leaky outdoor faucets and avoiding overwatering your lawn will reduce the insects that attract scorpions.
Switching off or dimming bright outdoor lights at night is another easy step. Bright lights draw moths and beetles, and scorpions follow them.
When to Call a Professional in Missouri Springs.
If these steps are not working, it is time to call a professional. Store-bought sprays only treat the surface and miss the spots that keep bringing scorpions back.
Saela Pest Control helps Missouri Springs homeowners tackle the problem properly. Their team inspects your home, seals entry points, and targets the pests that attract scorpions in the first place, a real solution for anyone living near the foothills.