Indeed we do. The wife of a fellow in another group got bit by a diamondback when she got out of her car after parking in the driveway. Fortunately it was a dry bite. Yesterday I killed a rather large bark scorpion out near my grill. Since I have been in Az, about 8.5 years the wife and I have killed well over a hundred scorps. Haven’t seen a rattler myself but will dispatch same when I do. It is only a matter of time.
At this very moment I can see 9 Diamondbacks out on the field not far from where I am sitting
My grandma bought a new car and drove it the hour back to the house. She told grandpa it had a rattle so grandpa went out to check it out. Seems there was a rattlesnake under her seat.
You may be interested in a crime thriller set in Arizona -- from the California border through the Salt River Valley and up to the Hellsgate Wilderness in Zane Grey country. It has a lot of action. Oh, and there is a scene with a rattlesnake up by Haigler Creek.
A review:
Collateral Crimes is the best crime thriller I’ve read in years. It’s a riveting, fast-moving, well-crafted page turner that had me hooked from the beginning. I especially enjoyed the geographical settings that take place in rural and the wilderness of Arizona's rugged Sierra Ancha Mountains where the climax of the story takes place. The author demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the places he writes about. I've been to those locales many times and the author's accuracy is spot on. Readers should keep in mind Yogi Berra’s sage advice, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”
Marshall Trimble, Arizona State Historian
I've been here 9 years and haven't seen one yet, either. Just a few small scorpions. Arizona plants, however, have minds of their own and will leap out and attack you. Just moved to a new house in a somewhat more rural suburb, and everything growing in my front yard is ultra spiny...and hungrily awaiting its chance. :)