Are There Scorpions in Louisiana?
No, scorpions are not established in Louisiana. While scorpions occur in parts of Oklahoma and Texas, Louisiana is too humid and warm-but-wet for regular populations. Scorpions are primarily found in the arid southwestern United States. This guide provides information for travelers who might encounter scorpions elsewhere.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
Western Forest Scorpion · Seth CC BY
Black Hairy Scorpion · Public domain CC0
Southern Devil Scorpion · Alan Rockefeller CC BY
- 3
- species recorded
- 135
- GBIF records
- April, August, May
- peak months
Yes, scorpions are in Louisiana. Next you'll want:
Verified species, source iNaturalist
2 types of scorpions recorded in Louisiana
2 scorpion species have a verified observation record in Louisiana, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
- No openly licensed photo yet1
- No openly licensed photo yet2
Plus 1 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
195 verified observations on iNaturalist of scorpion have been recorded in Louisiana, most often in April, August, May.
When scorpion are recorded in Louisiana
No, scorpions are not established in Louisiana. While scorpions occur in parts of Oklahoma and Texas, Louisiana is too humid and warm-but-wet for regular populations. Scorpions are primarily found in the arid southwestern United States. This guide provides information for travelers who might encounter scorpions elsewhere.
Are they in Louisiana?
Scorpions are not established in Louisiana. Although some scorpion populations exist in neighboring Texas and southern Oklahoma, Louisiana's subtropical and tropical climate is unsuitable for regular scorpion presence. Established scorpion populations are primarily found in Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, and other arid southwestern regions. Louisiana's high humidity, abundant rainfall, and warm but wet climate make the state unsuitable for scorpion survival. Scorpions require dry conditions and cannot tolerate the persistent moisture found throughout Louisiana, from coastal marshes to river bottomlands to upland forests. Even though Louisiana is warm, the combination of humidity and abundant water prevents scorpion establishment. Rare individuals or escaped pets might occasionally appear in Louisiana, but no breeding populations exist. If you encounter a scorpion in Louisiana, it would almost certainly have arrived from elsewhere, such as an escaped pet or a hitchhiker in shipped materials. For documentation aboutScorpion in Louisiana, state wildlife resources confirm no established populations occur in the state.
How dangerous is it?
Understanding scorpion danger is useful for travelers visiting regions where these arachnids are found. Most North American scorpion stings cause pain and local swelling similar to a bee or wasp sting. The Arizona bark scorpion is the most medically significant scorpion in North America. Its sting can cause numbness, tingling, and in rare instances mild muscle twitching, particularly in young children, elderly people, or those with health conditions. However, severe reactions are uncommon, and deaths from scorpion stings in the United States are extremely rare, even from the most dangerous species, and are essentially absent when prompt medical care is available. Approximately 8,000 scorpion stings are reported to US poison centers annually, but serious medical outcomes remain very rare. Scorpions only sting when they feel threatened or are accidentally pressed against the skin. They do not actively hunt or attack people. Understanding this defensive behavior helps you stay safe if you travel to regions where scorpions are established.
How to recognize one
Scorpions have a highly distinctive body structure that makes them easy to identify. Adult scorpions typically measure between 2 and 8 inches long, depending on the species. Look for eight jointed legs, two prominent pincers or claws at the front resembling small lobster claws, and a curved tail held over the back with a stinger at the tip. The body color is usually brown, tan, reddish, or yellowish. The segmented tail with its characteristic curved shape is their most recognizable feature. The body is generally somewhat flattened. Scorpions are entirely different from spiders, which have fangs rather than pincers and lack the curved stinger tail. During daylight hours, scorpions hide in dark protected places like woodpiles, under rocks, inside shoes, or in rock crevices. They hunt at night for insects. When exploringLouisiana wildlife, you will find that the state's actual arthropods look quite different from scorpions and present no sting risk.
What to do if you are stung
If you are stung by a scorpion, stay calm. The vast majority of stings cause only local pain and do not require medical treatment. Wash the sting area immediately with soap and water. Remove any rings or tight bracelets from the affected area to prevent circulation problems if swelling occurs. Elevate the affected limb and keep it as still as possible, as movement increases pain. Apply a cool cloth for comfort, but do not apply ice directly to skin. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage discomfort. Most stings resolve completely within 24 hours. If you experience any symptoms beyond local pain and swelling, such as numbness spreading from the sting site, muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, or breathing difficulty, seek medical attention. This is general information, not medical advice; if you are stung, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if symptoms are severe. Young children, elderly people, or anyone with health conditions should seek medical evaluation more readily.
How to prevent encounters
Since scorpions are not established in Louisiana, prevention focuses on what to do if you travel to scorpion-prone regions. When packing for travel to the Southwest or parts of Texas or Oklahoma, shake out all shoes, socks, clothing, and gear before putting them on. Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants when hiking or camping in scorpion territory. Keep a flashlight handy when outside at night in those regions, as scorpions are most active after dark and glow faintly under ultraviolet light. Be cautious when moving rocks, logs, or firewood. Never reach into dark spaces without looking first or using a light. When camping, store clothing and bedding in sealed containers or keep them elevated off the ground. Before entering sleeping areas in older buildings, check for scorpions. Seal gaps and cracks in accommodations. If you encounter an insect infestation in your lodging, request a room change, as scorpions are attracted to places with abundant insects. Ourwildlife guidesprovide regional safety information if you travel to arid regions.
Where in Louisiana and when
Scorpions do not occur in Louisiana, though they do live in nearby parts of southern Texas and southern Oklahoma. Their primary North American range is limited to warm, arid, and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States. The core range includes much of Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah. Additional populations exist in parts of Oklahoma, southern Kansas, southern Arkansas, and extreme south-central Missouri. These arachnids require warm temperatures and dry conditions and cannot thrive in Louisiana's humid subtropical and tropical climate. Louisiana's geography includes coastal marshes, swamps, rivers, bayous, and upland forests with persistent moisture, abundant rainfall, and high humidity, all unsuitable for scorpion survival. The state's warm but wet conditions are incompatible with scorpion biology. From New Orleans and Baton Rouge to rural areas in the bayous and forests, Louisiana offers no suitable habitat. Learn more aboutwildlife in Louisianato understand the actual native and introduced species found throughout the state.
Harmless lookalikes
Louisiana has several arthropods that might remind someone of a scorpion, though none pose any sting risk. Wolf spiders, which are large and active hunters found across Louisiana, might trigger concern due to their size and hunting behavior, but they have no stinger and their body structure is entirely different. Fishing spiders found in Louisiana's many wetlands and water areas sometimes appear large or intimidating, but they are completely harmless. Centipedes found in Louisiana have many legs and sometimes appear threatening, but they have an entirely different body structure and no curved stinger tail. Harvestmen, sometimes called daddy longlegs, have thin long legs and might seem spider-like, but they bear no resemblance to scorpions. Whip scorpions do not occur in Louisiana but are sometimes mentioned in confusion. Ground beetles, particularly larger species, might cause momentary concern, but they are unmistakably different insects. If you find any arthropod in Louisiana that concerns you, consulting a photo guide or contacting a local pest control professional will quickly confirm it is almost certainly harmless.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are scorpions deadly? No, most North American scorpions are not deadly. Even the Arizona bark scorpion, the most medically significant species, rarely causes death, and deaths are essentially nonexistent when medical care is available. Do scorpion stings happen in Louisiana? No, scorpion stings do not occur in Louisiana because scorpions are not established in the state. An sting would require an escaped exotic pet, which is extraordinarily rare. What attracts scorpions to a house? In scorpion-prone regions, insects attract scorpions, as these arachnids hunt insects for food. Reducing pest populations and sealing cracks helps in those areas. In Louisiana, this is not a practical concern. What should I do if I see one in Louisiana? Inform a local wildlife agency or pest control professional, as this would be extremely unusual and worth documenting. If you encounter one while traveling in neighboring Texas or Oklahoma, simply leave it alone and maintain distance. For more information aboutLouisiana wildlife, consult state wildlife resources and regional guides.
Plan your trip
Best time to see scorpion in Louisiana: April, August, May
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your scorpion sighting in Louisiana
135 verified scorpion records have been logged in Louisiana, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Louisiana
- Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Cane River Creole National Historical Park · Find hotels
- El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail · Find hotels
- New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park · Find hotels
- Poverty Point National Monument · Find hotels
- Vicksburg National Military Park · Find hotels
Frequently asked questions
Are they in Louisiana?+
Scorpions are not established in Louisiana. Although some scorpion populations exist in neighboring Texas and southern Oklahoma, Louisiana's subtropical and tropical climate is unsuitable for regular scorpion presence. Established scorpion populations are primarily found in Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, and other arid southwestern regions. Louisiana's high humidity, abundant rainfall, and warm but wet climate make the state unsuitable for scorpion survival. Scorpions require dry conditions and cannot tolerate the persistent moisture found throughout Louisiana, from coastal marshes to river bottomlands to upland forests. Even though Louisiana is warm, the combination of humidity and abundant water prevents scorpion establishment. Rare individuals or escaped pets might occasionally appear in Louisiana, but no breeding populations exist. If you encounter a scorpion in Louisiana, it would almost certainly have arrived from elsewhere, such as an escaped pet or a hitchhiker in shipped materials. For documentation aboutScorpion in Louisiana, state wildlife resources confirm no established populations occur in the state.
How dangerous is it?+
Understanding scorpion danger is useful for travelers visiting regions where these arachnids are found. Most North American scorpion stings cause pain and local swelling similar to a bee or wasp sting. The Arizona bark scorpion is the most medically significant scorpion in North America. Its sting can cause numbness, tingling, and in rare instances mild muscle twitching, particularly in young children, elderly people, or those with health conditions. However, severe reactions are uncommon, and deaths from scorpion stings in the United States are extremely rare, even from the most dangerous species, and are essentially absent when prompt medical care is available. Approximately 8,000 scorpion stings are reported to US poison centers annually, but serious medical outcomes remain very rare. Scorpions only sting when they feel threatened or are accidentally pressed against the skin. They do not actively hunt or attack people. Understanding this defensive behavior helps you stay safe if you travel to regions where scorpions are established.
More places to see scorpion
More wildlife in Louisiana