Year: 2024

These Are Not Rattlesnake Eggs – But We Can See Why You Might Think So

Posted on by Bryan Hughes
Bird eggs found in a backyard recently.

It’s egg season. But rattlesnake eggs? Never. We get a good number of calls and inquiries about rattlesnake eggs in the backyard, but we can tell you right now: the eggs you see are not from a rattlesnake.

How can we be so sure? Rattlesnakes don’t lay eggs! They give live birth in the late summer, so any mystery eggs in any situation simply cannot be from a rattlesnake.  We wrote about this back in 2017, explaining everything.

But, the reasons why a person might think so can be interesting. Here’s our take, and a note for those of us who devote our time to work with the public on matters of reptile conservation.

Why is it so common to think bird eggs are rattlesnake eggs?

Human brains are tricky. Be clear: this situation is a perfectly normal part of the way we often approach the unknown. Because we know a thing or two about snakes, and you likely do as well, means little – it’s something we all do. It’s a form of confirmation bias. Once an idea is in play, it’s difficult to start from a clean slate and inaccurate answers can be the result.

You’re likely familiar with hikers posting photos of dog tracks in the mud, commenting “is this a mountain lion? I think it’s a mountain lion” … and regardless of subsequent comments and evidence showing that it’s just a dog print, the initial assessment remains: there was a Mountain Lion here until proven otherwise. 

We are all subject to confirmation bias. Yes, even you.

It’s a logical process issue we all can be subject to, where the least likely, but most interesting situation is the default thought, with evidence used to reluctantly disprove rather than inform. 

This shows up here in rattlesnake world with things like the common misidentification of the Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake as the cooler-sounding and less often seen Tiger Rattlesnake. Or the “Mojave Green” rattlesnakes draped across mountainous landscapes across the west, which are of course something else entirely. And even lizards get this, where it’s not uncommon for us to see Chuckwallas initially labeled as a venomous Gila monster. It’s also covered here in our video about how to tell the difference between a Mojave Rattlesnake and Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (https://rattlesnakesolutions.com/mvd)

So what does a person tend to do when faced with mysterious eggs in the backyard. Could they be from the birds back there every day, or the lizards on the block walls … once the idea that they could be from a rattlesnake creeps in, everything else falls away. And, thankfully, we can always answer with complete certainty when asked. 

Similarly, the decision for a person to choose more effective solutions when a rattlesnake shows up in the yard, like relocation and snake fencing, can seem to go against all aspects of common sense. Even when it’s learned that killing rattlesnakes won’t reduce encounters in an area and can even create a more dangerous situation, it can be a difficult switch to flip. A lifetime of bias, learned as a child, can make decisions that seem easy on paper harder to impliment and feel good about. The beliefs that a person has towards snakes can heavily influence their decision making process, regardless of actual or perceived safety as a result.

A different approach for reptile educators

It’s just another aspect of how interesting thought processes are when it comes to anxiety-producing topics, like rattlesnakes. The longer we do this work, the more time is spent understanding the thought processes themselves, rather than be frustrated with the results. Education is certainly important, and we all know that fear and ignorance go hand-in-hand. However, what can feel like an endless, helpless situation can change when we focus on how these thoughts are produced, protected, and perpetuated.

A community may never care for rattlesnakes, and that’s not a surprise. But they certainly care about other things: how they fit into the local culture, how useful or beneficial are they to their “tribe”, which aspects of a personality are desirable to express, and so on. By thinking about how rattlesnakes might fit into those boxes for an individual, or a community, change can be acheived. When being knowledgeable and kind to wildlife, including rattlesnakes, becomes a mark of local importance with all of the social benefits therein: watch what happens.

Arizona Laws and Ethics of Rattlesnake Removal and Snake Fence Installation

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This post isn’t exciting, but it is necessary. We are so happy that the tides seem to be changing on the topic of rattlesnakes. The old ways of killing them are being replaced with smarter practices. Short-distance relocation and prevention, like snake fence installation and habitat reduction, are becoming the norm. Not only are these practices better for the environment, but they are more effective in avoiding encounters than the old ways.

But, that comes with it’s own troubles. More people than ever are offering their services to the public to relocate snakes and install snake fencing … but are they doing it right? Is the service even legal? More often than not, unfortunately, multiple laws are often broken by well-meaning individuals. It’s wonderful that this goodwill exists out there, but now comes the more complicated second half of the task: making sure that providers are acting responsibly. As a homeowner, the laws of snake relocation and prevention are important to understand. So get a coffee and get ready, because this will not be exciting.

Snake Relocation in Arizona REQUIRES a Wildlife Services License

Snake Relocation services offered to the community requires a Wildlife Services License from the Arizona Game and Fish Department! Private certifications and training do not allow legal offering of these services to the community, and should not be confused with legal permits to perform these tasks. Removal and relocation of a rattlesnake is a complex matter, which is not as simple as simply putting a snake in a bucket and taking it to another location – that’s where the real work begins.

EVERY snake relocation person needs their own license

Any entity or business offering snake removal services must have EVERY member of the team be granted individual Wildlife Services Licenses. If one member of the team has a license but others are performing relocation services without it, this is against the law. If you live in a community where the security guards offer snake removal services, it is most likely against the law.

Snake Fence Installation often requires licensing from the state

Snake Fence installation requires a contractor’s license in most situations. AZROC licensing and insurance protect your property. If the total cost, including labor and materials of your project, is above $1,000, make sure the company is licensed, bonded, and insured with AZROC. You can check here: (https://roc.az.gov/search).

For your protection as a homeowner, and many other reasons: work with licensed contractors. It might seem great to save a few bucks up front, but when the installer ghosts you or messes up an expensive gate, you’ll be left without recourse.

Insurance! Don’t let someone on your property to catch a venomous snake who can hold you liable.

Rattlesnake bites are expensive! So are your walls and gates. The guy down the street who wants to help with a snake seems great, but what happens if his internet Steve Irwin act doesn’t work out? A rattlesnake bite is expensive, and you don’t want to learn this the hard way by being held liable.

What kind of insurance should be carried by ANY individual visiting a property to capture a venomous snake?

General Liability and Workers Compensation at minimum. As a property owner, I’d be cautious about inviting anyone to my place to catch a venomous snake that could hold me liable if they are bitten in the process.

Love it or hate it, the HOA has its say in your snake fence.

HOAs and private communities usually have very specific rules about snake fencing. Some of these rules can be complicated to work through or have requirements that would make any snake fence installation ineffective. If you have an HOA, it’s advisable that you inquire about these rules BEFORE getting any contractor involved. Unfortunately, we are often in the position of having to remove/fix snake fencing installed by landscapers and companies who circumvent these rules, and the homeowners end up with a mess.

Any changes to drainage can cause big problems if not properly assessed. In some parts of the county, drainage and flood aversion may be subject to special consideration. Check in advance!

Wait, is this just a way to get people to call you instead?

It might seem like that, but our real interest lies elsewhere: making sure that the snakes survive and that homeowners are protected … not only from rattlesnakes but the shady business practices that often feed on fear. There are many businesses that offer these services ethically and legally to choose from, so this article in no way singles out Rattlesnake Solutions as the only choice. Think of it this way: making sure to go through the proper legal channels, licensing requirements, and insurance coverage ensures that the business you hire has been scrutinized by regulatory entities and is a verified professional service. Kind of like “you must be this tall to ride this ride”, someone you call to catch a venomous snake in your garage should be able to meet certain requirements to be considered a viable service easily.

This is not as fun as our usual posts, but as a homeowner, I’d want to know these things about any contractor coming to work at my place. Snake-related services are kind of niche, so many aren’t aware of them. But now you are. Just remember, the same as anything else: if a price seems too good to be true, it’s likely some shortcuts are being taken. 

Gila Monsters Are Not A Danger Unless You Make It Dangerous

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

Many of you may have seen the recent story of a rare fatal bite from a Gila Monster. Here’s what you should know about that as an Arizona residents who live and recreate where these animals live.

You do not need to worry about Gila Monsters beyond the typical warnings to not pick them up, attack them, or other needless behavior. The individual who was bitten had the animals in illegal captivity, which is a very different situation from seeing one on a trail or walking across your driveway. One of the animals in question was illegally exported from Arizona.

There is no danger if you see a Gila Monster in the wild and do not intentionally choose to interact with it. If you hike with your dog on-leash, there is no danger. Just keep doing the obvious: don’t interact with animals that can deliver venomous defensive bites.

If you see anyone making remarks that Gila Monsters need to be killed or otherwise mistreated due to sensationalism around this incident, please consider providing a reasonable response. It may seem crazy these days, but it was not uncommon, even relatively recently, for people to kill these animals when seen due to fear and misinformation. 

There are a lot of rumors and speculative comments out there as well; everything from assuming an allergic reaction to drugs, poor health, and more. Currently, there is no official word on the cause of death or toxicology, and speculation is neither helpful nor necessary.

Some relevant facts about Gila Monsters:

  • Gila Monsters are venomous, rather than the false rumors about bacteria-loaded saliva and other nonsense. They are the only venomous lizard in the United States.
  • Gila Monsters do not need to “chew” venom in order to evenomate. Even a quick nip can result in an envenomation.
  • Beaded Lizards, though in the same genus as Gila Monsters, are not found within the U.S., despite rumors and colloquial misunderstanding.
  • Gila Monsters, while they do have a venomous bite, do not “spit poison”, have “poison breath”, “sting” or other variations of old cowboy stories that still infect common discussion.
A Gila Monster as they are typically seen, just cruising around doing its own thing without harming anyone. If a person chose to do something stupid here and are bitten, that is a decision and should not be confused with the intent of the animal.

Gila Monsters in the reptile hobby pet trade

Captive Gila Monsters are very often handled inappropriately by those who keep them in captivity. This often means unrestrained handling, as if they are a bearded dragon or similar non-venomous pet, involving a word that has no place in any reasonable venomous protocol: trust. This deliberate activity makes up a significant portion of bites from these animals, and these decisions should not be confused with an accident. While it’s not possible to know if this was the case in this instance, improper handling is the unfortunate standard in the hobby pet trade of Gila Monsters.

Despite the abundance of captive-born individuals out there for the pet trade, Gila Monsters are still unfortunately often poached from Arizona.

No, Rattlesnakes Are Not Coming Out Early

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

As rattlesnakes start to show up on the surface again this year, a few things are predictable. Some hikers and homeowners will report rattlesnake sightings, complete with photos of usually-sleeping snakes, with various warnings and declarations about warm winters and misreads on words like ‘brumation’.

So we’ll state plainly and to the point: rattlesnakes are not coming out early; it is typical every year for rattlesnakes to begin the early staging portion of den egress in mid-February.

This is based on our relocation data from more than 14 years of operation, as well as field observations from our team over the past 20 years. It’s also just keeping track of when these sightings tend to start each year, which is easier than ever thanks to social media. We can state with complete accuracy that the rattlesnake emergence activity right now (February 2024) is typical and going as planned.

In the next two weeks, sightings will increase, but rattlesnakes will not be out and about just yet. This “staging” part involves a lot of laying around in the sun near the entrance to their den. That might be sleeping in the grass right next to it, lounging under a nearby bush, or coiled on top of a packrat nest. They may make short movements, but are still tethered to the den until springtime conditions stabilize in March.

A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake doing its thing, as they do every February. This snake will hang out, along with a few others, right around the entrance to its winter den for a few weeks before leaving for the Spring. Most people would never see this without intentionally seeking it, so don’t worry.

How to avoid rattlesnakes in the staging period of den egress

Hikers can avoid rattlesnakes right now by simply staying on the trails. If you notice, most of the posts from hikers on social media where a rattlesnake is spotted are off-trail, climbing boulder piles or other situations where seeing a rattlesnake might even be expected. In comparison, a trail with people coming and going is not a place that most rattlesnakes will want to deal with for these sensitive situations, and will avoid them. Put your dog on a leash if it isn’t already, and it’s time to put the headphones away for the year.

Homeowners who see rattlesnakes in February should know that they’ve likely been there for months at this point, and it’s possible there are others on the property. If you’re doing any work like a garage cleanout, using a grill island, anything involving the pool equipment area, or general yard cleanup, be aware that this is when rattlesnakes might show themselves. And if you do see one, AVOID the fire department’s version of “rattlesnake relocation”, which is to dump it on the other side of the fence … which this time of year would guarantee an immediate return to the place of capture or a neighbor’s property.

Rattlesnakes may be visible, but prime rattlesnake encounter time is still a month or more away

Think of what they’re doing right now like this. It’s that part of the morning where you’re getting up and pouring some coffee. Maybe you’re checking some email or texts from overnight, but you’re not getting into all that right now. You’ve got that 45 minutes or so to let your brain adjust to daytime, and those sweat pants aren’t going anywhere for now. Think of rattlesnake activity in February like this, and for many of us, it will make perfect sense.

You can keep an eye on how the overall rattlesnake season is progressing by looking at our Rattlesnake Activity Forecast: based on real-time snake relocation information coming into our hotline. As you can see for today, it’s not something to really concern yourself with.

Some easy responses to common comments about rattlesnakes in February:

“OMG they’re out early!”

No, this is very normal. Every year, rattlesnakes start the den egress process in favorable conditions starting as early as January.

“I’m done hiking for the year!”

That’s unfortunate! While the fear of rattlesnakes may be real, the danger is relatively easy to mitigate. If hiking is something you enjoy, working on learning to feel ok out there to keep hiking the other 9 months of the year may be worthwhile.

“They never go away for the winter”

Sure they do. Being on the surface at the den is part of the larger, complex behavior of hibernation. While it’s true that in some conditions rattlesnakes can be seen in specific locations at any time of year, this behavior is largely predictable and to compare behavior over the winter months to, say, April, is simply inaccurate.