Month: March 2024

Snake Removals and Snake Fencing Project Updates

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

Justin found this young Sonoran Gophersnake at a home where it had wedged itself in poolside decorative rock. It had recently eaten, so extra care was given to gentle handling and a carefully selected release site.

A home in Marana has a rattlesnake den in the back, and Dave had visited three times to find and move them to a better situation. These situations can be complex, since relocating an animal still in the late stages of hibernation demand particular criteria for successful release.

A neighbor had called the fire department the day before, though without this careful selection of replacement hibernacula, a snake crawls right back from where it’s dumped alongside the roadway to its home.

A really nice looking Western Diamondback Rattlesnake! Jeff found this one under a lantana next to a rock pile, where it had likely spent the winter. It was relocated to a suitable new den site.

New home, ready for summer in Arizona without that whole rattlesnake thing getting in the way. HOA compliant and installed by our licensed, bonded, insured and experienced team.

This rattlesnake was hibernating in the garage.

When the homeowner backed her car out of the garage, she noticed a little rattlesnake was in there as well. The snake went to hide in some nearby stuff and that’s where Marissa found it when she arrived. Some gaps at the edges of the garage doors are how it had been coming and going.

Relocated to a carefully selected replacement den.

Snake Removal

This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was hiding out in a poison trap made for rodents for a few days, and still there when Marissa went out to capture it. Thankfully, it had not eaten anything, and would not die as a result or poison predators in the area. The irony is not lost here of rodent control killing off the more effective, natural, and free rodent control.

A condo homeowner found a rattlesnake under the grill cover on their patio. The homeowner’s dog had a swollen face, likely due to a snake bite. The condo is located near South Mountain Preserve, and a dead mouse was found earlier. The homeowner took the dog to the vet and removed the snake. The incident happened in Ahwatukee.

Please note: we do not follow up on the condition of pets after bites, typically. It’s a sensitive situation and aside from offering information at request, we respect the privacy of the homeowner.

Well, this is a new one. We were called out for a snake making sounds behind a dryer in the home. When Marissa got there, she found a bird stuck in the vent! She took it outside, and it flew off.

Brent finished up this gate so that rattlesnakes can no longer enter. No gaps exist anywhere greater than 1/4″, and the function of the gate is not changed at all. Installed by licensed, bonded, insured rattlesnake prevention professionals.

A young Western Diamondback Rattlesnake hiding out in a warehouse was caught by Dave the other day. It had likely spent the winter inside, and was found in its early spring movements. Dave found a better winter spot for it.

Dave’s first call of the year that was something other than a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake – a young Sonoran Gophersnake had succeeded in getting a springtime meal. It was released into appropriate habitat within its estimated homerange.

A homeowner called our Tucson snake removal hotline (520-308-6211) but lost sight of the snake soon after. Thinking he’d have to search for it, Nikolaus went out to get started … but the snake made itself known right away. This Mojave Rattlesnake looks to have come from a nearby new development, and likely displaced. A much better situation was found for it.

Another backyard ready for summer with a professionally installed rattlesnake fence.

A rattlesnake had overwintered in a rodent / erosion hole under pavement in an industrial area, and was seen on the move nearby. Marissa was able to get there in time to capture it and help get it to a safer situation for all involved.

A gorgeous Mojave Rattlesnake was hanging out in the supplied snake housing at a construction site in Mesa. Thankfully a worker saw it before reaching in, and called us out to help. This snake, likely displaced by the blading of a large section of desert for development, was moved to native desert nearby.

A rattlesnake was found taking cover under a bush in the front yard after initially being spotted in the driveway. Marissa went to north Phoenix to relocate this one back to native habitat.

From the outside, you’d never know this gate has been modified to prevent rattlesnakes from getting into the yard. HOA compliant, licensed, bonded, insured, and all that good stuff.

Arizona Snake Removal and Snake Fence Updates

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

We’re busy again! Spring is here and the 2024 rattlesnake season is underway. Here is some of what we’ve been up to:

The homeowner pulled into the driveway and noticed a rattlesnake outside. When they tried to scared it away, it retreated into the garage … where it’d likely been hibernating for a few months. Marissa helped it find a better den to finish its pre-spring behavior, and the homeowners now know there’s a gap in the garage door that can allow things like this.

The night before, the homeowner heard a rattle when he let the dog out. In the morning he called and Marissa was sent out. A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was hiding out in this corner by a raised dog bed. Cave Creek, Arizona

A Scottsdale homeowner was putting something away when he was buzzed by a rattlesnake hiding in a cabinet. The day before, he spotted a rattlesnake outdoors and left it alone, not realizing it had been hibernating in the garage. It was safely relocated to a suitable replacement den.

This gate has been modified to prevent rattlesnakes from gaining entry into this backyard. If you know someone who should meet our team of snake nerds to keep those first spring pool Saturdays rattle-free, send them our way.

Who do you want to talk to you about rattlesnake fencing? People who spend every waking free minute looking for and talking about snakes their entire lives, OBVIOUSLY.

Where can you get such a person? Well, we’ve got a bunch of them. Some serious rattlesnake knowledge goes into the evaluation and installation of our rattlesnake fencing. Jeff has joined our sales team, to help homeowners in Tucson find safety in their own backyards.

Yesterday, he and Jill gave a presentation for a local community so homeowners can be knowledgeable as we enter another busy rattlesnake season. Our team provides presentations like these to communities at no cost as part of our overall mission to keep snakes and people safe from one another.

If you don’t know Jeff, you can see his work with snakes all over our youtube channel: https://youtube.com/c/rattlesnakesolutions

A new puppy had just come to the household, so the homeowners walked the yard prior to letting the little out for the first time. It’s good they did! A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was crusing around the yard, eventually disappearing into a drian hole. Marissa was able to find it, and relocated it to a better spot.

An early morning call to north Phoenix – a homeowner was headed to the gym when he spotted a visitor slither into the garage when the door opened. It’s a Sonoran Gophersnake, thankfully.

The landscapers spotted this little Western Diamondback Rattlesnake who had been hibernating in a gap between the home and the surrounding block wall. It was relocated to a suitable replacement den.

This kind of gap is exactly the kind of thing that is sealed up during the snake fence installation process, if anyone’s wondering 😉

One of many properties we’ve helped to have a rattlesnake-free 2024.

More information on Rattlesnake Fencing: https://rattlesnakesolutions.com/keep-snakes-away/snake-fence.php?p=social

The homeowner had just let his dog out when he heard what sounded like an automatic sprinkler start up. He got the pup inside and saw a rattlesnake crawling under the grill to hide. Marissa went out to relocate it, and found that nearby, there was a shed with packrat activity all around. As we know from thousands of relocations: packrat homes are rattlesnake homes. On the hike out to release the rattlesnake, she ran into a bonus kingsnake!

While hanging out on the back patio, a homeowner in Cave Creek noticed a rattlesnake was also enjoying the evening.

This adult Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was found in a Scottsdale yard hiding out in a rosemary bush.

Ironically, rosemary is often touted as a deterrent to rattlesnakes, but the low ground cover and heavy leaf-litter make them ideal rattlesnake homes. When combined with a large boulder or two, a rattlesnake can make a long term home that can escape evasion for years.

It’s just barely visible even from this short distance, but this backyard will not have “rattlesnake encounter” on the list of exciting times for 2024.

Arizona Snake Removal Updates, February 2024

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

A very defensive Western Diamondback Rattlesnake with a lot of size on it for February hid its head after the stressful event of being captured. Nick released it into a safe place with enough rodent activity to sustain its healthy weight.

These can be more complicated than expected due to the easy climb opportunities, but this style of fence can also be modified to keep rattlesnakes out by providing a smooth surface to certain specifications. This property north of Phoenix will have an easier summer than last year.

More information on Rattlesnake Fencing: https://rattlesnakesolutions.com/keep-snakes-away/snake-fence.php

A couple of early season relocation calls from Dave in Tucson this week. – A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake that spent the winter in a water control box, and a Desert Spiny Lizard that got itself stuck in a dryer vent (no injury but it’s pride).

A large male Western Diamondback Rattlesnake that was found by the family dog (the dog is fine). Dave was out there in January and found a female, and this male was not present. In developed areas, hibernaculum can be complicated, and lone snakes often make due with whatever is around. This one may have been at a neighbor’s house. The property was searched and the snake relocated to a suitable replacement hibernation spot.

A pest control guy found a rattlesnake under some debris near a packrat nest, and the homeowner called us to have the snake removed. Dave went out and was not only able to find the snake, but recognized the situation as a likely den, and was able to extract a second snake. The homeowner was informed of the situation and how to prevent future visits from rattlesnakes (and therefore visits from Dave, too). Both snakes were moved to a suitable replacement hibernacula.

An essential part of any new build in desert-adjacent areas: professionally installed rattlesnake fencing. Working within both the physical limitations of rattlesnake biology and the HOAs where these homes are often found, this pool area will see a lot of fun and safe summer evenings in the future.

One of a pair of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes relocated by Dave in the Tucson area this week. This one, a baby, was born last summer and survived its first winter. Thanks to rational homeowners, it will get to see its first spring.

An adult Western Diamondback Rattlesnake that Bryce picked up at a home in the Phoenix area this week. He was relocated to a suitable replacement den.

This Sonoran Gophersnake was crossing the road in front of some dog walkers in Ahwatukee. It made its way to hang out against a garage door by the time Marissa arrived to help it get back to the desert.

Wood-slatted gates on pavers leave a lot of gaps that rattlesnakes can get through. Brent attached smooth surfaces and filled in the rest so that this gate is now ready to keep rattlesnakes out for years to come. From the outside, it looks exactly the same as it always did.