Scorping: An Introduction

Welcome to Scorping Season!

Entering the Summer months, our house in Orange County, California is filled with a sort of electricity. 

A yearning. 

A passionate desire.

We are ready for the hunt.

Our names are Parker, Boots, and Mackenzie, and we hunt scorpions. On warm Summer evenings we pack up our kits, grab some snacks, and pile into a truck bound for some secluded hiking trail in hopes of capturing the clawed arachnids. In this blog, we hope to share our passion for this little-known hobby by detailing our strategies, showing off our discoveries, and telling our stories.

I googled "hunters."
This could totally be us.

Why do we do it?

It probably seems crazy to a lot of people, I'm sure it would have seemed crazy to me if I had heard about it a year ago! Hunting scorpions, or "scorping", has actually turned out to be one of the most rewarding hobbies that I've come across in years. You see, scorping isn't just looking under rocks and hoping to find something - with the right methods, scorping can be a fun and fast-paced activity that gets you and your friends out of the house, exploring nature, and bringing home interesting, low-maintenance pets! Depending on the area, some may even consider it a public service.

Be warned, even if you're not interested in scorping right now, after your first catch you may find yourself itching for more. The thrill of seeing a scorpion rushing to its burrow and lunging after it, the excitement at finding a species you haven't caught before, even just encountering a wall of burrows without trying to catch anything can be intensely satisfying. On some days we catch only a single scorpion and spend the rest of the night observing the rest, sometimes we give it our all and go home with a dozen new buddies. Even if you just bring your scorping kit on a hike in without intending to go hunting, just the anticipation of possibly happening upon a new friend can enhance your experience.

Scorping 101

There are many nuances to scorping that we can't summarize here and will be discussed in later posts. This is intended to just be a rough overview of how and where to find your first scorpions, so don't expect to be experts just based on this information!

Not the recommended method.

The Search For Unintelligent Life

While there are exceptions to every rule, scorpions are almost exclusively found in warm, dark areas. So your best bet when scorping is to find a desert or untouched arid forest on the evening of a hot day. This is when scorpions are sitting out at the mouths of their burrows, waiting for some unfortunate prey to wander by. Because of the heat requirements, you will find that there are far fewer scorps out during the late Autumn through mid Spring, and because of their preference for darkness you will find them more sporadically during the day. Another reason to go in the evening and night is that some of your equipment will not work during the day, and we'll discuss that in a moment. 

Wherever you are, finding your nearest hot desert or dry-ish forest will be your best bet for scorping. We have several places in Orange County, and even more if we venture out to San Bernardino or San Diego, and more still if we go to Nevada or Arizona. Search your area for dry climates, and in those climates look for areas with a lot of elevation changes. Scorpions like to burrow into walls of dirt, or utilize holes in rock formations, and while they are solitary creatures for the most part, they often have homes that are placed very close to each other. As you catch them and see how they like to live, you'll understand more how small the world of a scorpion can be, and how even with another scorpion just a few inches away, many prefer not to venture far enough to meet their neighbors. Keep an eye out for walls or hills with lots of small holes, and you will likely find your new scorpion pals.

To Catch A Predator

When you find your burrows, it's time to use the first tool in your scorping kit - the blacklight. You can find flashlights that emit UV-A light, and we will discuss this more in a later post but for now, you can search Amazon for a "blacklight flashlight" and see many examples that will do just fine. Be careful not to shine this in anyone's eyes, but sweep it across the burrows you find. If you aren't sure you've found burrows, you can even use the light to verify. When you do find what you're looking for, you will know it almost instantly. When struck with UV-A light, the carapace of a scorpion will glow a spectacular green. Especially later in the night, this will highlight the creatures that normally are very good at blending in with their surroundings. 

When you shine your blacklight into burrows, you'll often find
scorpions holding their claws out but remaining inside.
We'll cover how to get these cautious guys in the next post.

Once you see your first scorpion, wait for a moment. Get a good look from a distance and see what size it is, what its surroundings are, and if there are others nearby. Scorpions can likely feel your footsteps, so moving toward them can prompt them to flee, and you don't want them to get away before you have had a chance to appreciate them! When you've gotten a good look at the scorp with your flashlight, it's time to pull out the next tool in your kit - grabbers. Any number of tools can be used for this, but some are better than others. Long tweezers with electrical tape generously wrapped around the tips are an excellent choice. The length is important for your safety, and the tape is important for the scorp's safety.

The largest scorpion from our last hunt, glowing under blacklight
(We will cover the safe use of shovels in the next post; they can be very destructive)

The same large scorpion under normal light.
With this light we identified it as a
Pacific Forest Scorpion (U. Mordax)

At this point, we want to make a note that we'll expand upon later: always, always use extra caution when approaching or handling scorpions. Some are timid and mild, but many can be aggressive and some can be incredibly venomous, even deadly.

Now, keeping in mind that your grabbers need to be long, you can approach the scorpion and attempt to grab it. At first this is going to be a longer process, and as you become more experienced and knowledgeable it can speed up. We recommend for beginners to approach slowly, as the terrain could be rougher than it appears (especially in the dark), and also because in the early stages of scorping it is important to learn about the creatures so that you can more safely and consistently catch them later on. With careful observation, you will learn that the differences in size, location, and species can determine the behavior (temperament) and abilities (speed) of the scorpions you are attempting to catch. When you do get close and have a good shot at grabbing the scorp, the first thing you want to do is not to pick it up, but to slide it away from its burrow. You will see that most scorpions would rather run from you than try to fight you, and once they're in their burrow it is very difficult to retrieve them without seriously harming them and putting yourself at risk. 

Now that you have your scorpion away from its burrow, you want to gently pick it up by its tail. We don't grab by the torso for several reasons: first, when holding a scorpion, even with tools, we want to have control of its most dangerous part; second, when grabbing the torso there is a very high chance of clipping or crushing a leg, and we don't want to harm our new friends; finally, if there is accidentally excessive force when picking up the scorp, we would rather damage the tail than the vital organs. This can be up for debate because the scorpion isn't likely to live very long without its tail, but we prefer to give it a chance at least. 

Depositing an aggressive scorp into its tub by hand.
A good example of what NOT to do.

Finally, when you have your first scorpion by the tail and are ready to pack it up and take it home, you need your third essential item: tubs! For containment, anything with a lid will do. We use polypro deli containers, but tupperware will work, or even a paper bag would probably do if you ensure there are absolutely no holes or tears (though it is best to have rigid plastic, because you can also use that for long-term storage). Scorpions don't use much air, so the amount that you capture naturally in that container will likely last several hours, but it is always best to care for your scorp by putting a few pin holes in the lid or upper walls. It is also good to get a bit of dirt from the area and put that in with the scorp, just to make it feel like home.

Our haul of 14 scorps. These containers are the perfect size
for creatures that never want to leave their burrows.

If you've done all this, congratulations! You're the proud owner of a scorpion, and you can officially call yourself a scorpion hunter.

Being Not An Idiot So Much Staying Safe

Let's be very clear about this: Scorping is a risky activity. This is a night hike (kinda dangerous), in which you go actively searching for scorpions (dangerous) that you will then take home (possibly illegal). We want to eliminate risk as much as possible, so please read this section before going scorping for the first time.

You Can't Do That Here!

The first thing anyone needs to do before heading out on a scorping expedition is to check the legality of their intended actions. This means checking to see if the area is off limits, checking to see if it is legal to remove creatures from the area, checking to see if the area is open at night, even making sure you're parked in a legal zone. When you return to your car carrying your haul, the average law enforcement officer likely won't be well versed in scorpion law and may just force you to release your hard-won companions. For quick reference, it is most likely illegal to remove scorpions from National Parks, BLM land, and State Parks, and it is very difficult to legally transport scorpions between countries if that's your racket. The laws may be different in your specific area, so it can be a good idea to google your state's laws, or find a forum where you can ask legal experts (lawyers that deal with nature conservation will likely know).

In many areas, you can only remove animals of any kind if you have a fish and game license. These are often very easy to get, and will come in handy for far more than just scorping. Definitely a worthwhile investment. 

Final note on legal things, if you have equipment that we don't specifically recommend, we can't guarantee it won't cause legal problems or at least arouse suspicion.

Let's Try Not Dying

Now that you've researched your local laws and are following whatever procedures you need to, it's time to take a moment before heading out and really think about what you'll need. Remember that you're not only catching scorpions but going on a hike, and you're not only going on a hike but going on a night hike. 

It will be dark, 

It will get cold, 

There will be predators. 

Starting with just the environment, it is important to bring some kind of cold weather gear. Yes, you chose this spot because it's warm, but many places that are very hot during the day can get very cold at night, especially if there is wind. Wear closed-toed shoes or boots, and try to wear something more heavy duty than a single layer of fabric wrapped around your feet. Try to wear long pants if possible, because you may encounter thorny or poisonous vegetation. Finally, and this is very important, bring a regular flashlight! It's common sense, but it can be very easy to get overconfident with your blacklight flashlights or to feel like it probably won't get that dark, or the path won't be that difficult. 

Second, remember that scorpions are dangerous, and they aren't alone. Never handle a scorpion with your bare hands, always use your grabbers to pick it up by its tail, and never take your light off the scorp until you have it fully sealed in its container (this could require teamwork). 

This is Parker.
Parker has been stung by U. Mordax so many times he's developed an immunity.
Don't be Parker.

Also, it is very rare to find an area where scorpions are the only predators, so be prepared for other, larger things. Snakes will be very common in these areas and at these times, as they like to rest on the warm ground at the end of a hot day. If you're in a forest there could also be bears, mountain lions, or other large animals that could ruin your experience. You could even run into some dangerous people, and you need to be prepared. The best thing you can do is hunt as a group. With more people you can take turns with some people watching for danger and some people focusing on the scorpions, and there is always safety in numbers. Another good idea is to stay on an established trail. It may seem counter-intuitive, but in our experience so far trails have cut into hills, making walls of dirt that are perfect for scorpions. Trails are also kept clear, and it is easier to see danger down the road from you. Have a person constantly shining a flashlight ahead of the group, and you'll see the snake and go around it instead of accidentally stepping on it and getting bitten. If it is legal in the area you can consider arming yourselves, but it in the vast majority of situations it is better for everyone to try to make a peaceful exit when danger arises. 

Lastly, keep at least one fully charged cell phone with GPS on. This is a night hike, and especially if you go off the trail you need to have a way of getting help if you lose your way.

Now You Are Ready... Kind Of

Alright, so it's entirely possible that you won't catch any scorpions with what you've learned here. Although we have found very little information on this hobby, we have learned a ton, and we can't share it all in one blog post. But get out and try your best, and at the very least you'll go on a hike with friends. No loss there, right? If you don't find scorpions the first time then just try a different area the second time, and if you find some but don't catch them, there will only be more as we get deeper into scorping season. This is the beginning of summer and the beginning of the blog; there's still a lot to cover before the season ends. 

We haven't decided exactly when the next post will be up, but we hope to make a list of everything that absolutely should go into a scorping kit, an overview on keeping scorpions, and a technique for catching scorpions once you've determined their size and speed.

There will be plenty of info on housing and feeding your new friends
in the next post. And don't worry, we're moving that big boi to a more size-appropriate container.

As a final note, while I've mentioned multiple times that you should not use bare hands to pick up scorpions, we have shown Parker do it several times. We are not going to continue with this bad habit. We don't want to be complete hypocrites, but more importantly we discovered later when we got into proper light that one of the scorpions we caught was C. Vittatus, and three were C. Sculpturatus, two very dangerous species. We want to set a good example for other scorpion hunters and we want to try to avoid being killed by the hobby.

Thank you for reading, and happy scorping!

Tail up,
Arms up,
forreal, don't touch it.