• Sunrise at the Cholla Cactus Garden

    Joshua Tree

    National Park California

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  • Pinto Basin Road Renovation

    Pinto Basin Road is being renovated. On weekdays you may encounter travel delays of up to 30 minutes. Cholla Cactus Garden is closed on weekdays. Cottonwood Visitor Center hours are 9 to 4 on weekdays, 8 to 4 weekends. More »

  • Rattlesnake Canyon Will Remain Closed Through May

    To provide additional time to mitigate the vandalism, Rattlesnake Canyon will remain completely closed to the public for another 30 days. More »

Giant Hairy Scorpion

Family Iuridae
Genus & Species Hadrurus hirsutus
 
giant hairy scorpion
 
Description length: 5.5 inches; color: pale yellow to olive brown A waxy coating protects the scorpion from water loss.
Food insects, occasionally small lizards and snakes
Life History Young are born live and carried on the mother's back for 10 to 15 days before venturing out on their own.
Habitat sandy areas
Activity nocturnal and seldom encountered
Abundance common
Where to Look Pinyon Well, Covington Flat, Pleasant Valley, Fried Liver Wash, Squaw Tank
Notes Scorpions are preyed upon by owls and bats. Their sting has about the same effect as that of a wasp.

Did You Know?

Fault map of the park

Joshua Tree is crisscrossed with hundreds of faults, and is a great place to see raw rocks and the effects of earthquakes. The famous San Andreas Fault bounds the south side of the park and can be observed from Keys View. More...