2012-2013 Fountain Hills Community Guide—Page 63
Desert living (continued from page 62)
colony and queen than the European honey bees of an earlier time. The sting of the Africanized bee is no more potent than that of the European bees, and they also can only sting once. The danger comes from the number that may attack at once. The venom from the hundreds or thousands that might attack can be enough to kill a dog, or a weak, elderly person or young child. Since the arrival of the Africanized bees, they have slowly taken over to dominate most honey bee colonies, particularly in the warmer climates. If a person is about to be attacked, he can cover his head and run for shelter, a building or car, but be careful not to let the bees in also. In most cases a person can outrun a swarm. People should call an exterminator for bee removal and should only call 911 in the event of an attack and injury.
Black Widow Spider
A mature female black widow spider has a large, black, shiny body and measures approximately 3/8 inch long, with one-inch legs. An hour-glass shape in bright red or orange color can be found on the abdomen. Black widow spider webs are very irregular and strong. They’re most often found in areas where water and insects are readily available. Around the home, they can be found under outdoor furniture, barbecue grills, pool pumps, and in storage areas, garages, wood piles, block fences and the corners of porches and patios. The black widow is shy. She hides near the web by day and is most active at night, where she waits in her web for prey to enter. She produces hundreds of babies hatched from egg sacs that look like little moth balls. The young black widows are white in color and spread quickly after hatching. The male black widow is much smaller, and is brown and white in color. Because of its size, its bite cannot pierce the skin and is therefore not dangerous to humans. Control: A “live and let live” attitude is the best approach for living in harmony with nature. But if you have a problem of close contact with the black widow or you have young children who play outside, you may have to take steps to control the black widow population around your house. To control the black widow population, it is necessary to directly hit the adult spider with a strong insecticide and destroy the egg sacs. To locate the black widow spider, use a flashlight at night to find her in her web.
Gila Monster This large, heavy-bodied beaded lizard displays contrasting markings of pink, yellow, orange and black. It measures up to 24 inches in length and weighs up to two pounds. While it is the only venomous lizard in the United States, it is a shy creature. Bites to humans usually happen when it is cornered or picked up. The Gila monster prefers canyon bottoms, rocky areas and outlying desert residential areas. It spends less than
two weeks per year above ground. From early March to mid-May, Gila monsters are active during the day and change to nighttime activity beginning with the monsoons. Things you can do to discourage venomous critters from living around your home: • Remove litter, wood, paper, logs and debris from your yard. • Wear heavy work gloves when working in your yard. • Keep doors and windows tight fitting with good weather stripping. • Make sure openings (such as where air conditioners, evaporative coolers and exhaust fans enter your house) are sealed, closed or encircled with double-sided sticky tape. • Fill cracks in the foundation and around water faucets. • Look before placing your hand under or into something. • Make regular checks for bee hives or swarms. If found, have them removed by pest control experts. • Be aware that operating equipment that produces sound vibrations could disturb beehives or wasp nests. • Check clothing or linens dried outside before bringing them in the house. • Do not leave shoes, boots, clothes or towels outside. • Wear shoes outside, especially at night around the pool. • Call your local fire department for help in removing rattlesnakes or Gila monsters that don’t leave on their own. • Keep the poison center hotline number near your telephones: (800) 222-1222.
Other Wildlife The wildlife that one may encounter literally in their own back yard living in Fountain Hills can be both charming and frightening at the same time. The four legged desert denizens include coyotes, javelinas, bobcats, mountain lions and even bears have been known to wander down from the mountains into Fountain Hills. In general these animals pose the greatest danger to small pets and children. Adults can usually avoid a confrontation with the wildlife by following a few simple rules. If you encounter any of the animals named, do not run. The animal may go into an instinctive chase mode and pursue. Stand and face the animal, look it in the eye and raise and wave the arms to appear larger and more intimidating. Throw rocks if they can be obtained without crouching or bending over. Keep children close and don’t allow them to run. Don’t keep pet food or water where it is easily accessible by wildlife. Take steps to prevent rabbits, rodents and other potential food sources away from your property. Most Fountain Hills resident enjoy sharing their environment with wildlife and it can be done safely and responsibly. The Arizona Game and Fish Department Web site has additional information at www.azgfd.gov.