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Are there scorpions in Colorado?

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. The answer
  2. Which ones
  3. Official advice
  4. Sources

Yes.

CSU Extension says three scorpion species are confirmed in Colorado and none has venom associated with dangerous complications.

Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural Biology: “Three species of scorpions are confirmed to occur in Colorado.” Source

How we answer questions

Colorado

Think you have seen one in Colorado? Keep your distance and contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).

The 5 on Colorado's list

Common striped bark scorpion
Photo: Meghan Cassidy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalist · resized

Common striped bark scorpion

Centruroides vittatus

Not named as dangerous

Venom
“Only when necessary do they bend the stinger over their body and inject poison into the prey. Species found in Colorado are not dangerous to humans although the sting can be painful.” Colorado State University Extension. Colorado State University Extension says this of the whole group; it does not name this species as dangerous to people. Do not handle it.
Size
Usually about 2.5 inches. Sources range from 1 to 1.5 inches on average (Missouri Department of Conservation) to up to 3.5 inches (Oklahoma State).
How to recognize it
  • Slender pincers and a long, slender tail. The tail is longer on males than females.
  • Tail ends in a stinger, usually carried up and over the body.
  • Glows under ultraviolet light.
Where in Colorado
The common striped bark scorpion (Centruroides vittatus) is widespread in southeastern Colorado, with 1-70 about its most northern range. Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural Biology
49 records by month.

Full Common striped bark scorpion guide

Northern desert hairy scorpion
Photo: Marshal Hedin · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Northern desert hairy scorpion

Hadrurus spadix

Not named as dangerous

Venom
“Only when necessary do they bend the stinger over their body and inject poison into the prey. Species found in Colorado are not dangerous to humans although the sting can be painful.” Colorado State University Extension. Colorado State University Extension says this of the whole group; it does not name this species as dangerous to people. Do not handle it.
Where in Colorado
Also present on the West Slope, but in more limited areas such as around the Colorado National Monument, is the northern desert (black) hairy scorpion (Hadrurus spadix). Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural Biology
No confirmed photo of Northern scorpion

Northern scorpion

Paruroctonus boreus

Not named as dangerous

Venom
“Only when necessary do they bend the stinger over their body and inject poison into the prey. Species found in Colorado are not dangerous to humans although the sting can be painful.” Colorado State University Extension. Colorado State University Extension says this of the whole group; it does not name this species as dangerous to people. Do not handle it.
Where in Colorado
The northern scorpion (Paruroctonus boreus) occurs throughout the counties along the Utah border Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural Biology
No confirmed photo of Vaejovis russelli (no common name)

Vaejovis russelli (no common name)

Vaejovis russelli

Not named as dangerous

Venom
“Only when necessary do they bend the stinger over their body and inject poison into the prey. Species found in Colorado are not dangerous to humans although the sting can be painful.” Colorado State University Extension. Colorado State University Extension says this of the whole group; it does not name this species as dangerous to people. Do not handle it.
Where in Colorado
Vaejovis russelli is a less common species within the state known from the Pueblo area Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural Biology
No confirmed photo of Serradigitus wupatkiensis (no common name)

Serradigitus wupatkiensis (no common name)

Serradigitus wupatkiensis

Not named as dangerous

Venom
“Only when necessary do they bend the stinger over their body and inject poison into the prey. Species found in Colorado are not dangerous to humans although the sting can be painful.” Colorado State University Extension. Colorado State University Extension says this of the whole group; it does not name this species as dangerous to people. Do not handle it.
Where in Colorado
Serradigitas wuptakiensis is known from areas of boulder strewn slopes in southwestern Colorado. Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural Biology

All scorpions in the state: Colorado scorpions.

When scorpions are seen in Colorado

79 records (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY).

What official sources advise

Other questions about Colorado

Sources

  1. Scorpions of Colorado. Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural Biology (Extension entomology). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (2)
    “Three species of scorpions are confirmed to occur in Colorado.”
    “Birth of the northern scorpion usually occurs around August.”
  2. Spiders in the Home (Fact Sheet 5.512). Colorado State University Extension. Published September 2013; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Only when necessary do they bend the stinger over their body and inject poison into the prey. Species found in Colorado are not dangerous to humans although the sting can be painful.”
  3. GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.