In most of Montana, we've rattlesnakes that like to curl up under  
pallets/hive stands.  I wear boots - not for the bees, but  for the snake strikes - 
especially when they are shedding their skins and don't  give you a warning. 
 
I remember well the day when I had to remove a snake from under a 4-pac  
pallet, then found several black widow spiders between the hives.  At  least 
we don't have scorpions here - found them down in Yuma - they seem to like  
the cavity of the hand holds at night.  We eventually started using a black  
light at night to scan the hives before picking them up.
 
Jerry

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