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There is no evidence-based list of exactly 29 American states to avoid. The clearest medically important risk is concentrated in Arizona and nearby portions of the Southwest, where the Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) occurs. Scorpions and reported exposures extend beyond that core area, however, so a whole-state label cannot predict whether you will encounter one at a particular home.
A useful answer separates three questions: where the Arizona bark scorpion is reported, where any scorpion species occurs, and where poison centers have recorded stings or other exposures. Those maps overlap, but they are not interchangeable.
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Why a 29-state “avoid” list is misleading
The available sources do not establish a defensible ranking of 29 states. They describe species ranges, regional habitat and historical poison-center calls using different methods and time periods. A state can contain suitable scorpion habitat without every county having scorpions, and a reported exposure does not identify the species involved.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallHouse-level conditions can matter more than a state boundary. Rocky shelter, open ground, cracks around a structure and gaps under doors all influence whether scorpions can enter. Conversely, a person in a scorpion-range state may never see one if a building is well sealed and the immediate habitat is unfavorable.
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Use the regional guide below to compare risk honestly instead of treating 29 states as equally dangerous.
Which states have the Arizona bark scorpion?
The Arizona bark scorpion is the U.S. species of principal medical concern in the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension guide. The Arizona Department of Agriculture describes its established U.S. range as southeastern California, Arizona, Nevada, southern Utah and southwestern New Mexico, with small populations reported in northern California and Colorado.
The University of Arizona’s 2018 extension guide gives a similar core range but says the species also occupies small parts of California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Texas. These descriptions should be read as portions of states, not statewide designations. Differences in wording reflect the level of detail in each source rather than a precise political boundary.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute| Area | What the cited sources establish | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Strongest documented association with the Arizona bark scorpion; the Arizona Department of Agriculture calls it the only species in Arizona of medical importance. | Risk varies by locality and building, but this is the clearest region for concern about medically significant stings. |
| Southeastern California | Included in the Arizona Department of Agriculture range; the extension guide also describes small California populations. | Do not assume every part of California has the same likelihood. |
| Nevada | Listed in the agriculture range and the extension guide. | Southern or suitable habitat is more relevant than a statewide label. |
| Southern Utah | Listed for the bark scorpion by the agriculture source; the extension guide also names small Utah areas. | Southern Utah warrants more attention than northern Utah for this species. |
| Southwestern New Mexico | Listed in the agriculture source; the extension guide describes small New Mexico areas. | Range language does not mean statewide presence. |
| Northern California and Colorado | The agriculture source reports small populations. | These are limited reports, not evidence that either state is uniformly affected. |
| Texas | The extension guide names small parts of Texas for the bark scorpion. | Other Texas scorpions and exposure reports require a separate, all-species view. |
Anne-Michelle Ruha, MD, a medical toxicologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix, explains the medical distinction: “There are other scorpion species in the Southwest that can sting you, causing pain, skin irritation or swelling, but no other species in the U.S. causes envenomation.” That statement does not mean every sting is trivial; it means the Arizona bark scorpion is the U.S. species associated with the more serious envenomation syndrome described by the medical sources.
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Are scorpions only in Arizona?
No. Arizona has the strongest association with the Arizona bark scorpion, but scorpions occur elsewhere. Utah State University Extension says most U.S. scorpion species occur in Arizona, parts of Texas and central Oklahoma. It reports that most Utah scorpions are in the southern part of the state, while three species occasionally occur in northern Utah. This is a statement about scorpions generally, not a confirmation that the Arizona bark scorpion occupies all of those areas.
The same distinction applies across the South and Southwest. A state may have native species that can sting without having the species of principal medical concern. Seeing a scorpion, finding shed skin or hearing a local report therefore does not identify the medical risk by itself.
Where are scorpion stings and exposures most common?
The best numerical comparison in the cited material is historical poison-center data, not a current state ranking. A 2017 study, “Geographic Distribution of Scorpion Exposures in the United States, 2010–2015,” analyzed reports from that six-year period. It found the highest reported incidence in Phoenix, up to 677 exposures per 100,000 population, and Tucson, 584 per 100,000.
Other cities with high reported incidence were El Paso at 213 per 100,000, Oklahoma City at 209, Tulsa at 178 and Las Vegas at 170. These are city-level historical estimates, not measurements of every county in those states and not a forecast for 2026.
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| City | Reported incidence | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | Up to 677 per 100,000 | Poison-center reports covering 2010–2015; highest figure cited in the 2017 study. |
| Tucson | 584 per 100,000 | Historical city estimate from the same study period. |
| El Paso | 213 per 100,000 | Historical reported exposure incidence, not a species-specific rate. |
| Oklahoma City | 209 per 100,000 | Historical reported exposure incidence. |
| Tulsa | 178 per 100,000 | Historical reported exposure incidence. |
| Las Vegas | 170 per 100,000 | Historical reported exposure incidence. |
The study mapped nine states with more than 100 annual reported calls, but its authors also found baseline exposures throughout many southern states. Nearly 17,000 scorpion exposures were reported annually to U.S. poison control centers during the preceding decade, with Arizona accounting for about 11,500 per year. Those figures were historical values quoted in the 2017 paper, not current annual totals.
Poison-center reporting has a built-in limit: exposure reporting is not mandatory. Mild cases may never generate a call, while awareness, access to a poison center and local reporting habits can change the apparent rate. The dataset also does not prove which scorpion species caused each exposure. Use it to identify places with documented reports, not to declare a state safe or unsafe.
How to judge a place if you are afraid of scorpions
1. Check species range
Start with whether the Arizona bark scorpion has a core or smaller reported presence in the specific county or region. Arizona and portions of neighboring states deserve closer scrutiny than a distant state with only occasional records. Ask a local extension office or health department about the immediate area rather than relying on a statewide headline.
2. Look at local exposure data
City-level poison-center numbers can show where people have reported exposures, but they are historical and incomplete. Treat them as a signal for questions, not as a probability calculator for one address.
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3. Inspect habitat and construction
Rock piles, wood or landscape debris, dense ground cover and other sheltered spaces can provide harborage. Cracks around foundations, pipe penetrations, window screens and the gap beneath an exterior door create entry routes. A newer, well-sealed home may present less practical exposure than an older, open structure in the same town.
4. Separate encounter anxiety from medical risk
If your primary fear is seeing any scorpion, all-species presence matters. If your concern is severe envenomation, the Arizona bark scorpion’s range and local medical guidance matter more. Those are different decisions and should not be collapsed into one 29-state list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Practical ways to keep scorpions out of a home
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension emphasizes exclusion and habitat modification. Its guidance says chemical pesticide spraying alone is “not generally effective.” Physical prevention reduces entry opportunities and can be checked directly.
- Fit tight screens. Repair window and vent screens so there are no tears or loose edges.
- Seal the bottom of exterior doors. Install an appropriately fitted exterior door sweep and check that the door still closes fully. A sweep is a barrier, not a guarantee.
- Add weather stripping. Replace compressed or missing material around movable doors and windows.
- Close utility openings. Seal gaps around pipes, conduits and other penetrations where they pass through walls or foundations.
- Remove nearby shelter. Move debris, stacked materials and other harborage away from the building perimeter; keep vegetation from creating concealed routes to walls.
- Inspect regularly. Focus on garages, storage areas, thresholds and rooms adjoining exterior walls, especially after moving stored items.
These measures address the routes and shelter identified by extension guidance. They do not certify a property as scorpion-free, and spraying should not be treated as a substitute for sealing and cleanup.
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What to do after a suspected sting
The University of Arizona Health Sciences recommends shaking out shoes and clothing before putting them on. It also advises keeping curtains or other fabric from hanging into an infant’s crib or bed, where a hidden scorpion could contact a child.
Symptoms can vary. Pain, skin irritation or swelling may occur with stings from several species. Seek medical attention for severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, extra salivation or trouble coordinating muscle activity. Children, older adults and anyone with concerning or rapidly worsening symptoms should receive prompt professional advice rather than relying on an internet map to judge severity.
Do not attempt to handle a live scorpion to identify it. If it can be photographed safely from a distance, an image may help a qualified local professional, but personal safety comes first.
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Bottom line for people choosing where to live
If you want to minimize the chance of encountering a scorpion, compare specific neighborhoods and homes in the Southwest instead of crossing 29 states off a map. Arizona—especially the Phoenix and Tucson areas in the historical exposure study—has the clearest documented association with both the Arizona bark scorpion and reported exposures. Parts of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas also appear in range descriptions, while broader all-species presence extends into places such as Oklahoma and other southern states.
The most useful questions are local: Which species are documented here? How often are exposures reported in this community? Are doors, screens and utility penetrations sealed? Is debris or rocky shelter close to the structure? Those answers provide a more realistic estimate of household exposure than a claim that exactly 29 states should be avoided.
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