Month: July 2026

Title: Sonoran Sidewinder Found Curled Up at a San Tan Front Entry

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

A homeowner in San Tan called after discovering a small rattlesnake coiled in the corner of their home’s entryway. The home is in a well-developed gated community, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that the visitor was actually a young Sonoran Sidewinder. The property sits along the outer edge of the neighborhood, where a wall separates the homes from a large expanse of natural sandy desert habitat, making it easy to see how this little snake found its way into the community. After securing the Sidewinder, Alivia hiked it farther into its estimated home range, away from roads and buildings, and released it into an active ground squirrel burrow beneath creosote and other native desert vegetation.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Under Lawn Decoration

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This homeowner called us after discovering a large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake sitting in ambush beneath a lawn decoration while she was watering her plants. She had actually called us just the day before to remove another large Western Diamondback from the backyard, and this one was nearly as impressive. When Josh arrived, he quickly secured the rattlesnake, offered it some water to help it recover from the summer heat, and completed a thorough inspection of the property to be sure no other snakes were present. He then located a suitable release site within the snake’s estimated home range, where a large rodent burrow along a desert wash provided excellent shelter and cover for the rattlesnake to continue its important role in the ecosystem.

Rattlesnake Waiting in Backyard

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This homeowner called after finding a large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake sitting in ambush beneath a lawn decoration in the backyard. She was no stranger to rattlesnakes, having used our services several times before, including for seven removals last year alone. While Josh was on the way, she kept a safe eye on the snake to make sure it didn’t slip away, making the removal much easier. After safely securing the rattlesnake, Josh offered it some room-temperature water to help it cool down and rehydrate before relocating it within its estimated home range. He selected a large rocky wash with excellent natural cover, releasing the snake into a deep rodent burrow beneath a Saguaro, where a large boulder and surrounding vegetation provided shade and protection. With everything a rattlesnake needs to thrive, it will hopefully spend the rest of its life there without another encounter with people.

Paradise Valley Speckled Rattlesnake Beauty

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This Paradise Valley homeowner spotted a Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake near her front door and kept an eye on it as it slowly explored the front yard while waiting for Marissa to arrive. By the time she got there, the snake had made its way onto the patio, where it was safely secured. The home sits right against the mountain, surrounded by boulders and excellent native habitat. With bird feeders attracting plenty of Gambel’s Quail, the yard offered abundant food for local wildlife, making it easy to see why such a beautiful snake was passing through. After the removal, it was relocated within its estimated home range to suitable rocky habitat away from homes.

Young Diamondback Finds Better Shelter

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

A Cave Creek homeowner found this young Western Diamondback Rattlesnake outside their garage after arriving home around midnight. With very little insulated cover nearby, it seems very likely the snake had been using the garage area as a place to aestivate during the summer heat. Austin noted that it was looking a bit thin, so after offering it some water, he relocated the snake within its estimated home range to a large rodent burrow complex beneath a mature creosote bush across the street, where it had plenty of shade, shelter, and access to natural prey.

Perfect Summer Refuge for a Speck

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This Phoenix homeowner found a Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake that turned out to be a gravid (pregnant) female, and the property offered everything a snake could want during the hottest part of the year. Abundant rocky cover, mature shade trees, and reliable water sources made the yard much cooler and more inviting than the surrounding desert. After Austin safely captured the snake, he hiked her back into the adjacent preserve and found a deep cave along the side of a shaded drainage. The location provides excellent shelter for summer aestivation, allowing her to remain cool and protected as she prepares to give birth later in the season. She was released into suitable habitat within her native range.

Juvenile Rattlesnake Behind the Grill

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This homeowner walked into the backyard and discovered a juvenile Western Diamondback Rattlesnake coiled behind the grill. Fortunately, the snake stayed put until Josh arrived. The homeowner kept an eye on it from a safe distance without disturbing it, which made the removal quick and straightforward. That simple step is one of the most helpful things a homeowner can do, as it greatly increases the chances of finding the snake exactly where it was first seen. The young Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was safely relocated to suitable habitat within its native range, where it was released into a large, deep rodent burrow beneath protective cover.