Month: September 2026

A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake Escaping the Heat

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

We’ve been to this Ahwatukee home quite a few times over the years, usually for Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnakes. With the property sitting close to a rocky hillside in the preserve, that’s not particularly surprising.

This one was coiled beneath the north-facing back porch awning, realistically about the best place it could have ended up around the home on a day this hot. The shade there gave it a place to escape the worst of the daytime heat.

Austin captured the snake and hiked it back into the preserve within its estimated home range. He released it into a deep caliche cave where we’ve released other rattlesnakes from this same neighborhood in the past.

Check the Doormat for Rattlesnakes Before Letting the Dogs Out

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This homeowner went to let the dogs out onto the back deck and was understandably startled to find a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake resting comfortably on the doormat.

They gave us a call, and the snake was helpful enough to stay exactly where it was while Gary made the drive to the property.

After a fairly straightforward capture, Gary relocated the rattlesnake into deep cover inside a large packrat midden on a nearby hillside. A much better place to relax than directly outside a door with dogs on the other side.

A Tiny Western Diamondback Displaced by Development

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This homeowner went into her backyard after hearing her dog barking and found it lunging at a neonate Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.
Concerned the dog may have been bitten, she immediately took it to the veterinarian, then called us to relocate the snake.

Normally we try to keep relocated rattlesnakes within their estimated home range whenever possible, but there was a problem here. A large patch of desert directly behind the home had recently been completely cleared for development. Much of the habitat this little snake would have been using was gone.

As a result, Gary had to take the snake a little farther out than we would have preferred to find suitable habitat and cover for its release.

A Tiny Western Diamondback in the Courtyard

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

The homeowner spotted this neonate Western Diamondback Rattlesnake tucked into a shaded corner of her front courtyard.

The home has a large wash running behind it, and several of the front gates had small access points that a snake this size could easily fit through. For a newborn rattlesnake wandering around trying to figure out life, that’s likely all it took to end up in the courtyard.

Jeff captured the little snake and relocated it just outside the neighborhood, releasing it into a rodent burrow tucked against a stack of boulders where it had plenty of cover.

Why Does This “Diamondback” Look So Crazy?

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake turned up at the front door of a home on South Mountain, leaving the homeowners wondering why this particular “diamondback looked so crazy.”

Drayvin explained that they were actually looking at a completely different species. After learning a little about Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnakes, the homeowners came away with an even greater appreciation for rattlesnakes and just how beautiful they can be.

The snake was removed from the community but kept within its estimated home range. Drayvin hiked it back onto the mountain and released it into a large rocky outcropping above a wash. It disappeared into the rocks almost immediately.

There would have been more release photos, but Arizona had other plans and Drayvin’s phone overheated in her pocket.

A Familiar Rattlesnake Decides to Stay

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

The homeowner had watched this rattlesnake come and go from the property for the past couple of years. This year, however, it seemed a little more interested in taking up permanent residence in the yard.

The home sits on 2.5 acres with desert surrounding it in every direction, so rattlesnakes moving through the property aren’t unusual. By the time Jeff arrived, this one had disappeared into a hole beneath one of the AC units.

Getting it out required a water extraction. Once the snake emerged, Jeff safely captured it and relocated it away from the neighborhood into a deep packrat nest where it had plenty of natural cover.

Western Diamondback at a Busy Warehouse Entrance

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

Workers at a local warehouse spotted this young Western Diamondback Rattlesnake near the main entrance, an area that sees a lot of foot traffic throughout the day.

They’ve called us for rattlesnakes several times in the past, so they knew exactly what to do. David arrived, safely captured the little snake, and gave it some water before relocation.

It was released into open desert habitat under good cover, away from the busy warehouse.

The Landscaping Mistake that Brings Rattlesnakes Closer

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

When it’s hot and dry in the desert, anything with regular access to water becomes useful to wildlife. Lawns, gardens, and potted plants on patios are all things we create to make our homes a little more comfortable in an otherwise very dry environment. But we’re not the only ones that benefit from them. These areas provide water, shade, cooler temperatures, and often attract the smaller animals that rattlesnakes are looking for. We respond to several calls that show this happening in different ways. None of these homeowners are doing anything unusual—they’re just maintaining their yards. But when conditions in the surrounding desert are hot and dry, those small pockets of water and vegetation can become very attractive to wildlife. We also answer a question that comes up pretty regularly in the comments: if it’s so hot and dry outside, why don’t we give every rattlesnake water before we relocate it?