Latest news with #scorpions
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Silvretta Montafon in Austria is Now Epic; Buy an Epic Pass by May 26 to Ski and Ride at the Lowest Price
Ski and ride Silvretta Montafon in Austria with Epic Pass Epic Passes are on sale now at the lowest price of the year ($1,051 USD) through May 26 BROOMFIELD, Colo., May 23, 2025 /CNW/ -- Vail Resorts today announced that Austrian skiing will be even more Epic with Silvretta Montafon joining the 2025/26 Epic Pass lineup. Located in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, Silvretta Montafon offers a unique combination of sporty terrain, high-alpine scenery and reliable snow conditions. The ski area is accessible from major airports like Zurich and Munich, and spans two interconnected mountains offering diverse terrain for every skill level. "Expanding Epic Pass access to include Silvretta Montafon further opens the door to exhilarating mountain experiences in Austria," said Bill Rock, President of Vail Resorts' Mountain Division. "Silvretta Montafon isn't just home to world-class slopes— it's a destination rich in alpine tradition, stunning landscapes and hospitality that's world class." Silvretta Montafon is nestled in the heart of the Montafon Valley, where skiers and riders can conquer numerous awe-inspiring peaks while enjoying spectacular views that stretch from the Rätikon to the Silvretta Alps. Home to over 136 km of slopes, terrain parks, and extensive freeride areas, Silvretta Montafon attracts skiers and snowboarders looking for both challenge and variety. Highlights include the legendary "Black scorpions" steep black runs, sunrise skiing and lively après, plus a dedicated freestyle terrain park. In 2027, Silvretta Montafon will host the FIS Freestyle World Championship, one of many events to experience at the resort. "The partnership with Vail Resorts marks a milestone for Silvretta Montafon," said Peter Marko, CEO of Silvretta Montafon. "The Epic Pass brings new guests to our mountains – people who seek athletic challenges, authenticity, and high-alpine experiences. We are truly excited to become part of this strong international family." The Epic Pass ($1,051 USD for adults; $537 USD for children) and Epic Adaptive Pass ($527 USD for adults; $270 USD for children) will include five consecutive days of access to Silvretta Montafon. Epic Passes are on sale now at the lowest price of the year through May 26. May 26 is also the last chance to receive two Buddy Tickets (for up to 45% savings on a lift ticket) and six Ski With a Friend Tickets to help Pass Holders share days at their favorite resorts with family and friends. Further, May 26 is the last chance to purchase an Epic Pass with just $49 down. Pay $49 at the time of purchase, with the remainder of the purchase due mid-September. The announcement of Silvretta Montafon follows news from this week that Austrian ski areas Saalbach and Zell am See-Kaprun, and Mayrhofen and Hintertux, joined the 2025/26 Epic Pass roster. These new partners are in addition to existing Pass Holder access to Ski Arlberg, the largest connected ski resort in Austria and one of the six largest ski resorts in the world. The Epic Pass now offers access to 33 resorts across nine ski areas in Europe, plus unlimited, unrestricted access to 37 iconic North American mountain resorts, like Whistler Blackcomb, Vail Mountain, Breckenridge, Park City Mountain, Stowe and many more. With Epic Pass, skiers and riders have the flexibility to buy their Pass now and decide later where and when to ski or ride. Visit to compare Pass options and buy a Pass before prices increase May 26. About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)Vail Resorts is a network of the best destination and close-to-home ski resorts in the world including Vail Mountain, Breckenridge, Park City Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb, Stowe, and 32 additional resorts across North America; Andermatt-Sedrun and Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in Switzerland; and Perisher, Hotham, and Falls Creek in Australia – all available on the company's industry-changing Epic Pass. We are passionate about providing an Experience of a Lifetime to our team members and guests, and our EpicPromise is to reach a zero net operating footprint by 2030, support our employees and communities, and broaden engagement in our sport. Our company owns and/or manages a collection of elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, a portfolio of vacation rentals, condominiums and branded hotels located in close proximity to our mountain destinations, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Retail operates more than 250 retail and rental locations across North America. Learn more about our company at or discover our resorts and pass options at SOURCE Vail Resorts, Inc. View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
The Guardian
08-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Scorpions ‘taking over' Brazilian cities with reported stings rising 250%
Scorpions are 'taking over' Brazilian cities, researchers have warned in a paper that said rapid urbanisation and climate breakdown were driving an increase in the number of people being stung. More than 1.1m stings were reported between 2014 and 2023, according to data from the Brazilian notifiable diseases information system. There was a 250% increase in reports of stings from 2014 to 2023, according to research published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health. The rise in cases has been driven by rapid, unplanned urbanisation – such as favelas – characterised by high-density housing and poor waste disposal, according to the research. Although urban areas are encroaching on wild habitats where scorpions already live, they are also creating new environments in which to thrive. 'Urbanisation in Brazil has profoundly reshaped ecosystems,' said the lead researcher, Manuela Berto Pucca, an assistant professor at São Paulo State University. 'Cities unintentionally offer everything scorpions need: plenty of shelter (in walls, drains, rubble and construction debris), consistent warmth, and a reliable food supply in the form of cockroaches and other urban invertebrates.' They particularly like sewers, which are warm year-round, home to almost no predators and provide plenty of food, especially cockroaches. Some species of scorpion can survive for up to 400 days without food and are able to reproduce without mating, making them difficult to eradicate. Scorpions thrive in urban environments such as sewers, which are warm and humid and have a ready food supply in the form of cockroaches. Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images Hotter summers, and periods of intense rainfall and drought, also help them thrive as they are adapted to warm and humid environments. Provisional data for 2024 suggests scorpions were responsible for nearly 200,000 stings and 133 deaths in Brazil. In total, researchers projected 2m new cases between 2025 and 2033. 'The real scale of this issue is likely far greater than the recorded statistics suggest,' researchers said, as many people choose to treat themselves at home, or forgo treatment. 'I've been working in places where scorpion stings are a daily fear, especially in poor and crowded areas,' said Pucca. 'The numbers showed us that in the future the problem will be bigger than it is now.' Researchers said that 0.1% of reported stings result in death, and children and elderly people are most vulnerable. Healthy people generally make a full recovery, but can suffer from pain and discomfort for several days. Symptoms include pain, burning, swelling, redness, tingling and nausea. Previous research modelling the distribution of scorpions in Brazil showed the potential to expand their habitats into urban areas driven by a warmer, wetter climate. Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Mexico, Guyana and Venezuela have witnessed a 'particularly alarming rise in scorpionism [the medical condition resulting from a sting] over recent decades, evolving into a significant public health crisis', the researchers of the new study said. In Europe there are believed to be more than 35 native species of scorpion, although there is no comprehensive research on population trends. Researchers said prevention was key. 'Scorpions thrive in cluttered, humid environments. Keep areas clean, seal cracks in walls, use screens on drains and always check shoes, towels and clothes before using them,' said Pucca. Dr Manuela González-Suárez, an ecologist at Reading University who was not involved in the research, said: 'The numbers are much higher than I would expect, in the sense that this is a significant increase.' However, she said awareness of an issue could also result in more reporting. González-Suárez added that people should not be unduly alarmed by the research: 'Many people who are stung do not have severe or lethal reactions and mortality rates are relatively low compared with, for example, those due to road accidents or violent crimes.' Scorpion anti-venoms are available at some Brazilian hospitals and people are urged to seek treatment immediately if stung. Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty The Brazilian health system provides free treatment for scorpion stings, and anti-venom is available at some hospitals and emergency centres. 'If someone is stung, don't wait for symptoms to worsen – go to the nearest healthcare facility immediately,' said one of the paper's authors, Prof Eliane Candiani Arantes from the University of São Paulo. 'All people are vulnerable, especially children, because just one small sting can kill a child,' she said. Prof Nibedita Ray-Bennett, at the University of Leicester, who is president of the Avoidable Deaths Network, said the study underscored 'the urgent need for action'. Pucca said one of the most widespread misconceptions about scorpions was that they were our enemies. 'They are not. These animals act defensively, not offensively. They're part of the natural world and play essential ecological roles, from controlling pest populations to maintaining biodiversity.' Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow the biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield in the Guardian app for more nature coverage
