A good rule to follow is to always be aware of where you place your hands and feet. Snakebites are rare, occurring mostly when people attempt to handle snakes. Do not attempt to capture or otherwise molest any wildlife. If bitten, contact a ranger by signaling or sending someone for help. Although snakes often do not inject venom when they bite, any animal bite should be examined by a physician and monitored for signs of infection.
Scorpions are common in the canyon and stings occur with regularity.
While scorpion stings are painful, they rarely cause serious health problems. The elderly and very young children are most susceptible to their venom. It is rare for an evacuation to be necessary. Scorpions are small and their tan color makes them difficult to see. The Backcountry Information Center is open daily for walk-in visitors from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.