This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was a bit hard to see, aligned perfectly with the edge of the garage door. As the daily temperatures continue to cool, rattlesnakes will increasingly look to garages as easy spots to hibernate.
Landscapers were trimming bushes when they said a snake struck at them from under a bike that had a tarp on it. It was a huge Western Diamondback Rattlesnake! It took Marissa a few tries to get it into the bucket safely. The home is right across the street from a mountain preserve with a golf course, so the snake was likely eating quite well.
This neonate Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was found coiled up in a Buckeye backyard. The little one doesn’t quite know where to go yet, and they often don’t make it through their first season. Marissa helped it find a better spot to hopefully see its first spring in a few months.
A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake was located by maintenance workers under a set of pool stairs. It stayed there until Cory arrived to help it get back to South Mountain.
After a month of endlessly walking around Fear Farm looking for a ghost. On the last day I found a spooky serpent. It was by some pallets in the part of the property the was by the best habitat. Had to set it up for a photo op. Tempe – Marissa
I can’t believe we get paid to do this. Gorgeous Speckled Rattlesnake from yesterday in Ahwatukee. Homeowner had seen it in the morning and when it still hadn’t moved on by the afternoon, she decided to call us. Her home was right up against South Mountain and she even had a large wash running beside the house, which is likely what the snake was coming from or trying to get to. I hiked it far up the wash away from the homes and placed it into some good deep cover. Bonus dog that was very excited to receive some pets from me. – Austin
Rattlesnake Fencing installed to the outer fence of this property in Phoenix. The vegetation makes an easy climb up and down for a rattlesnake if the fencing weren’t there. These properties can be tricky, too, since they can act as a fall trap for animals, often leading to more snake encounters than level properties. But, that’s no longer a concern at this place.
More information on Rattlesnake Fencing: https://rattlesnakesolutions.com/keep-snakes-away/snake-fence.php?p=social
This was a fun one. Cheyenne responded to a call for a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in a garage. The homeowners had been noticing things knocked over in there recently, so this is not the culprit they’d expected. They were surprised such a large snake hadn’t rattled at them … but that mystery was also solved. It’s missing its rattle entirely, including the last segment, so this snake is unable to give its characteristic warning. Cheyenne was careful to release the snake to the right area.
As winter approaches in Arizona, the calls we get start to change. In this episode, Marissa and I show what late-fall rattlesnake relocations actually look like. Most of the snakes we’re finding now are getting ready to hibernate or are already settled in — hiding in debris piles, garages, sheds, sprinkler boxes, and patios.
I talk about why winter relocations have to be done carefully, how we pick safe release sites, and why the idea that relocation “kills rattlesnakes” isn’t true when it’s done correctly.
And while releasing one snake at night, I run into a wild rattlesnake heading toward its den — a perfect look at how they naturally move this time of year.
A call came in for a rattlesnake on the front porch. The homeowner was no stranger to rattlesnakes, as we have been to the property several times in the past. This one was tucked in between the back corner next to a rock and some decorations. There was a water bowl for lizards and birds within a couple of feet of the snake, near the front door, which was likely the reason the snake was there. Josh went out to capture the snake and relocate it to a deep rock crevice within its natural home range.
