Carol, who is in her early 50s, and husband Gary subdued the brown beast with a sheet of paper and a plastic container before seeking advice from the RSPCA and Uttlesford District Council’s environmental health department. She said that both told her that the scorpion’s brown colouring was a comforting sign - as the most venomous versions are black. Mrs Cook estimated her intruder was around three inches long – or around 7.6cm.
She said husband Gary was unperturbed by their visitor: “He said ‘Calm down, calm down’ but I’ve seen the film, The Scorpion King. When I saw its tail lifting up, it was quite scary, because you are aware it could sting.” She was anxious to find out more about the creature, which now appears to be dead. Mrs Cook said: “I would like someone to say what it is - and whether or not I should have worried about it.”
Although scorpions are found on every continent except Antarctica, she speculated global warming might be playing a part in her discovery. Scorpions are not native to the UK but colonies have been established after the species was introduced. In all, around 1,750 species of scorpions have been identified. Of these, only about 25 are known to have venom capable of killing a human. Iain Newby, who runs Dangerous Wild Animal Rescue Facility, in Great Wakering, Essex, said it "could be something quite venomous". He added: "It might have been in the cardboard packaging during shipping, or in the factory, or it could have come from somewhere completely different."
1 comment:
It is my understanding that a BROWN scorpion is more venomous, not the black as reported here. The small and easily-overlooked Bark Scorpion in the US, Central and South America is known to be potentially deadly to infants, elderly, and those with compromised health.
I was stung by one in rural Mexico and took a dose of benedryl - and recovered, obviously!
Still quite scary that a British housewife finds one in her tea biscuits!
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