Snake Removals from Phoenix and Tucson Updates

Posted on April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 by Bryan Hughes

A homeowner went out into the garage and was immediately rattled at from near the door. The snake likely got in while the door was open for awhile the day before.

While walking around in the backyard at night, a homeowner and her dog were rattled at. The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake had moved under a wheelbarrow to hide, too. That’s where it was found when Marissa arrived to help it find a new place to hang out.

And old gate gets new life with some rattlesnake prevention materials, attached on the inside of the gate so from the street you’d never know that rattlesnakes aren’t even an issue within.

A surprise visitor in a Cave Creek garage. The snake had been coming and going for quite some time through a gap under the seal in the corner.

A pair of colorful Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes near Tucson that were found in a garage. Note that both of them are hiding their heads before relocation. This is an aspect of defense and a sign of the stress of the event. As much as we can try to minimize it, relocation is a very scary experience for the snakes. Thankfully, they learn from these events, and will avoid it in the future.

From Bryce: “This one was a doozy, but a fun one for sure! Got a call around midnight for a rattlesnake sitting in a Buckeye resident’s front yard. By the time I got there, this Mojave Rattlesnake had just started crawling into the neighbor’s yard. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the concrete wall was hollow, and when I went to grab the snake, it slipped its way into the wall. Attempts to secure the snake with tongs and hooks were unsuccessful, so I resorted to watering it out. Admittedly, I wasn’t very hopeful that this call would go in my favor, as this snake had a perfect spot to spend the night in a spot that I couldn’t really get to. But finally, after what seemed like ages, our culprit got sick of being sprayed with water and made a dash for it, giving me an opportunity to bucket her before she could find her way into any more predicaments. “

A sneaky little Western Diamondback Rattlesnake that Dave caught on Tucson’s south side. That generalist pattern works about everywhere, including artificial terrain like this.

A call to the Tucson hotline for “three rattlesnakes” ended up being FIVE by the time Dave was done searching there. All were relocated together to carefully selected cover within their estimated home range.

The homeowner lost track of the snake while Dave was on route, but he found it hiding out in a rodent bait box.

A pest control operator in Scottsdale saw a rattlesnake in a backyard and notified the homeowners. A Property Inspection was scheduled, and Jeff went out to check the yard. He found a pair of mating Western Diamondback Rattlesnake under a bush. Also nearby: the actual problem. A packrat nest was hidden away, and likely where the rattlesnakes had been living.

Some Western Diamondback Rattlesnake diversity from recent relocation calls around Arizona.

It’s not all diamondbacks! Well … here’s one, but with a few friends who also show up at homes from time to time and got a ride back to the desert.

A perfect example of how rattlesnakes rely on camouflage to avoid predators. The owner of this home was putting up Halloween decorations and went up and down the ladder many times before realizing he had a visitor. Bryce was called out and the snake didn’t move until captured.

This Sonoran Desert Toad was seen a few days before and showed up again in this old water feature. After we were called out to capture and relocate it, it was drained to prevent future visits.

A large Mojave Rattlesnake at an industrial area in the east valley. Jeff helped find a new place to hang out. This one is the typical brown coloration of the area.

This little Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was hanging out inside an apartment complex hallway, and was evicted back to the desert by Marissa.

A Mojave Rattlesnake alerted a homeowner to its presence when she was taking the trash out at night in Queen Creek.

A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was revealed when a homeowner moved a trash can away from a pool pump. This is not an uncommon sight in Scottsdale.

We were recently hired to inspect a property of a medical facility where several rattlesnakes had been spotted. Dave went out and was able to locate 3 Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, and advise on situations that could be changed to avoid future encounters.

Here are those snakes on the way out, and the deep packrat nest where they were relocated to. By carefully selecting relocation sites and releasing them directly to deep cover, we can reduce the likelihood of panicked wandering behavior and help the snake survive the ordeal.

Derek was able to find a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in a backyard, where the dog had found it. Thankfully, there was no bite, and everyone (including the sanke) made it out of the situation unscathed.

A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake from a Cave Creek backyard. Spring is mating time, and it’s very often for us to find other rattlesnakes in association with females found on properties. This is one reason we often get right to checking the rest of the property after securing the snake we’re actually called out for. In this instance, she was alone.

A Mojave Rattlesnake from the east valley was relocated by Jeff recently.

If you’re currently typing out “I thought they were green!”, this is where you learn this is not the case in many, if not most, situations with this species in our region.

Dave went out to this property near Tucson after several rattlesnakes had been seen in the area, but none were on the surface that day. However, now in April, one rattlesnake was found near an obvious hibernacula with signs of long-term use. The snake was relocated, and the property owner knows what can be done to prevent their return in the fall.

A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake found in the corner of a garage near Tucson, relocated elsewhere within its estimated home range into carefully selected habitat.

From CJ: “Long Western Diamondback Rattlesnake the other morning. When I arrived it was ready to vámanos from the front porch. Customer asked about rattlesnake eggs and I was able to provide education on rattlesnakes giving live birth and how many people think quail eggs are rattlesnake eggs. When doing the inspection, I stumbled upon a clutch of quail eggs in a planter and was able to point them out to the customer. North Scottsdale.”

Another backyard protected from rattlesnake visits this year. They can live on the other side of the fence, and everything works out just fine.

A new rattlesnake fence installation leaving no gaps large enough for a rattlesnake of any size to get in. Baylend took care of this one.

A pair of Western Diamondback Rattlesnake found recently outside the perimeter of a rattlesnake fence we installed. This prompted a call to relocate the snakes and check the interior area as well, but the fence had done its job and no snakes or issues were found within.

From CJ: “Gophersnake friend crashing the customer’s lounge time on the patio. Took him to the river bottom where there was a good pile of debris he could hang out in. Litchfield Park.”

A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake had been hanging around on the back patio for a few days. Eventually, the homeowner called us to come out and help it move along. CJ found a nice packrat nest shaded by Palo Verde, where it was released directly to deep cover to help it survive the event.

Nik was called to this large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake a few blocks from a midtown neighborhood in Tucson. How it made it through all of the cars and human activity can’t be known, but Nik found the likely source and relocated the snake back to it.

A courtyard gate secured from entry by rattlesnakes recently by the team.

Snake Removal in Phoenix and Tucson Updates

Posted on April 15, 2024April 15, 2024 by Bryan Hughes

This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake kept playing hide and seek with the homeowners in a rodent hole at the base of this bush before it could be captured. This is in a new development in the northwest valley and conflict with wildlife will be high over the next several years, as both the animals and people who’ve moved there adjust.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in a bucket.

Nick said this was one of the most defensive rattlesnakes he’s ever worked with, repeatedly striking the inside of the bucket any time it was touched.

These two Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes were found together under an AC unit on a recent property inspection.

This little Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was hiding out behind a decorative pot for the day out in Gold Canyon. Marissa went out to find it a new place.

A recent Rattlesnake Fence installation in Oracle, AZ from Nate that worked out amazingly all around. It’s hard to see (which is the point), and is made to look either invisible or as if it were always part of the structure.

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

A mother in north Phoenix thought to check the yard before the kids went out to play, and it’s good she did. This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was found hiding out near the AC unit. It was relocated to a better area.

A Mojave Rattlesnake found near a warehouse in Mesa. As you can see, they’re not always (or even often) green.

If this pot looks familiar, you’re not wrong. In a recent post you saw a young rattlesnake removed from behind it – another showed up a few days later to the same exact spot that was exactly the same size. It wasn’t the same snake, however, confirmed by comparing the tail bands. Apparently this pot is the spot.

Visible from an angle, this black steel will keep rattlesnakes from accessing the property. Installed by licensed and insured professionals (AZROC 321123)

This little Sonoran Gophersnake was called in as a rattlesnake, after making its way inside a home via a door left ajar. The homeowner threw a towel over it and that’s where it was when Marissa arrived shortly after. Lessons learned: towels are good makeshift snake restraints, and doors open in Arizona invite all guests.

While sweeping the garage, a homeowner noticed a visitor in the corner. This is a very common occurrence in Arizona spring, where snakes that have been using the garage all winter come and go from the free cave situation.

A patio cleanup ended up being a rattlesnake removal call. This baby Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was making use of the shaded corner to rest until temperatures were favorable.

Another large property with new rattlesnake protection installed by our crew.

A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was found in the parking lot of a business. When people started throwing rocks at it, the snake crawled into the undercarriage of a nearby car to escape. Marissa saw it here when the hood was popped. Thankfully, the snake was not injured and relocated to a more suitable situation.

This member of Snakes Against Literacy was hanging out on a bridge leading to a public library, preventing visitors from coming in. Marissa helped it back to the surrounding habitat.

This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake didn’t even uncoil as Nikolaus gently moved it from its resting place at the base of this tree into the bucket.
A common question: “Why don’t the snakes ever strike the tongs?”.
Answer: because we are using them as intended … very gently, with just enough force to control without hurting the snake. When you see photos out there online of tongs being misused with excess force is when the snakes bite at the device that is causing them injury.

Another backyard in Tucson that won’t be visited by rattlesnakes, installed by our team of licensed, insured rattlesnake experts. Nate and Michael killing it down there.

A large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake hanging out near the front door of a Tucson home the other day. Dave relocated it to a packrat nest, which is a perfect relocation situation. These nests are often used for cover at any time of year, and will allow the snake to carefully re-enter its home range on its own timeline.

A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake living in rock crevices at a property near Tucson. Spring is mating time for many rattlesnakes, and the odds of finding a second snake in association with the one called in is much higher this time of year.

This Sonoran Gophersnake was called in as a rattlesnake, which is a common misidentification and easy to make. The concern was, once it was captured, to make sure it could be safe from the dogs, so it was moved a short distance.

More about why we sometimes relocate harmless snakes: https://rattlesnakesolutions.com/snakeblog/rattlesnake-solutions/why-relocate-harmless-snakes/

An adult female Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was found surprisingly deep into a neighborhood near Tucson. She was relocated to a carefully-selected spot.

This small Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was found in a courtyard in Anthem, Arizona the other night. It was relocated to a packrat nest, to re-orient itself with its homerange on its own terms at a later time.

An expertly-installed rattlesnake fencing project with a standard double-gate. This is the difficult part that is often overlooked.

An easter-egg hunt found something else instead. This Sonoran Gophersnake was also looking for eggs (real ones) but ended up getting a free ride off-premises.

Marissa carefully working with a large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, using two tools to help distribute its weight to safely capture without risking injury to the snake.

After a likely rattlesnake was spotted in some bricks by a homeowner in Surprise, Marissa got to play our favorite game: Spicy Jenga. She caught the snake in question, and found a little one that went along for the ride as well.

Snake Removal and Rattlesnake Fence Updates

Posted on April 5, 2024April 5, 2024 by Bryan Hughes

A quick Western Diamondback Rattlesnake relocation from this situation near Marana the other day. The snake was likely hibernating within or near the box, taking advantage of a little sun before its primary spring activities.

The first snake removal of 2024 for CJ! The homeowners were getting ready for bed when one went into the kitchen and heard a rattle. The front entry door was cracked open slightly due to the wind, and this small Western Diamondback Rattlesnake decided to pop in. CJ caught it with no issue and released it into a deep granite cave shaded by mesquite on a wash terrace.

This was in Ahwatukee earlier in the week.

This small Sonoran Gophersnake was called in as a rattlesnake stuck in the garage. After moving some things around, Marissa discovered it tucked into some plastic. Learning that gophersnakes are harmless and great pest control, the homeowner opted to have it released back to his property.

The number one negative comment left on our socials about our snake fencing: “there’s nothing there, they can get right in”. Thank you!

These make our day, proving the point of just how little rattlesnake prevention will visually impact the view. Just visible here in the sunlight, you can see the smooth steel mesh applied by Brent on a recent rattlesnake fence installation project.

This little Sonoran Gophersnake was called in as a rattlesnake, fleeing to hide in a rosemary right before Marissa arrived. She found the little one and was able to grab it right before it disappeared. They watched the sunset together in Ahwatukee before it was released to carefully selected habitat.

It’s a little early in the year for front door snakes, but this one was likely displaced by recent heavy rain. It was relocated to a carefully selected spot to dry off.

We’re nearing the end of ‘garage snake’ season. This was a repeat visit to this home for Marissa, but the first inside the garage. Its head was just poking out when she arrived, making for an easy capture and release.

This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake had been seen hanging around over the past few weeks. The last few sightings were getting closer to the building where people come and go, so it was time to be relocated to elsewhere within its homerange. Marissa gently captured and relocated it to a carefully selected location.

No rattlesnakes were found on a recent property inspection, but Marissa did find a couple of shed skins. One was from a harmless coachwhip, but the other was left by a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. The property was informed on the situation and what can be done to reduce future encounters.

To schedule a property inspection, email inspection@rattlesnakesolutions.com

Some rodent activity was noted during a recent property inspection. A detailed report about various, similar activity and other situations that likely have contributed to recent rattlesnake sightings and possible remedies were delivered to the homeowner. This is part of a regularly-scheduled property inspection service, which has shown to greatly reduce snake activity over time at even the most snake-friendly locations.

To schedule a property inspection, email inspection@rattlesnakesolutions.com

It’s hard to see, but there’s a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake hiding out behind the trash bins at this Tucson home. It was a very short crawl from deep cover where it had likely spent the winter. Dave was called out to relocate it to a staging area adjacent to a suitable replacement hibernacula.

A homeowner in Tucson heard her three dogs “going crazy”. Fortunately, all of them had undergone rattlesnake aversion training, and had kept their distance despite the interest in the visiting rattlesnake. Dave was called out to relocate the snake to a better situation for all involved.

A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake hiding out in the provided shade of a covered patio near Tucson. It was relocated to a better situation within its estimated homerange.

Barely visible and installed by professionals – this backyard won’t have to worry about the rattlesnake encounters of previous summers.

Nikolaus was called out to capture this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake that looked to have been displaced by the heavy rain. This was in a Tucson neighborhood, with several flooded packrat nests nearby where it had likely been staying.

With warmer temperatures come the move by rattlesnakes to become largely nocturnal. Here’s a recent one from Tucson, hanging out on a back patio. It was relocated to a carefully selected situation within its estimated home range.

Rattlesnake fencing installed by licensed, insured professionals. Share this with someone you know who could use a break from worrying about rattlesnakes in their own backyard.

Dave visited a place near Marana that had a rattlesnake a few days before, but found another stuck in the plastic cover. Pool equipment areas are common spots for rattlesnakes to den up for the winter, and this little one almost didn’t get to see the springtime. With some patience, Dave got it free and found a nice packrat nest for it to rest and contemplate its recent decisions.

Bryce went out for a call in Stetson Valley for a small snake cruising around in the entry of a garage. He found a Desert Nightsnake, a small and harmless species common in semi-urbanized areas. He found a good spot for it to safely continue looking for geckos and whatnot.

Lizard rescue! During a recent Property Inspection, Dave found a pair of Western Banded Geckos unprepared for the mass of rain. He helped them to a nearby dry hiding spot to return when the floods receded.

A big male Western Diamondback Rattlesnake did not appreciate being captured and unimpressed with Dave moving him from a front patio vantage point. Regardless, he eventually ended up making due with deep cover beneath some cactus within its estimated home range. Sorry dude.

A healthy, small Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was found hiding out under some stuff on the back patio near Tucson. It was relocated to a safer spot.

A large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake found under some patio furniture in Phoenix. These kinds of chairs aren’t suitable for rattlesnakes to really live under long-term, but make a great “camping” spot for a day.

A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake found in a garage recently. There are a lot of encounters just outside garages this time of year, as snakes that had likely been hiding in them for awhile finally start to make movements out and away. This one was relocated to a carefully selected situation within its estimated home range.

Bucket snakes! Here is some diversity of the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. This is, as you may have noticed, the most commonly encountered snake in the area.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in a bucket waiting for relocation.

An old gate with new tricks. Brent installed rattlesnake prevention materials to this wooden gate, and rattlesnakes aren’t going to be coming in this year.

Kyle coming in with the flawless dual gate rattlesnake prevention install the other day! It’s like it was always supposed to be there.