Month: October 2026

A Rattlesnake Turns Up Half a Mile Into a Paradise Valley Neighborhood

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

A landscaper was leaf-blowing the backyard of a Paradise Valley home when he spotted a rattlesnake moving across the property. The snake eventually settled into a coil beneath a tree against the back fence, where Marissa found it when she arrived.

The property had a large, well-maintained backyard with very little cover, although the lawn was well watered. The tree along the back fence offered one of the few shaded places where a rattlesnake could settle without being completely exposed.

What made this call interesting was the location. The home sits roughly half a mile into the neighborhood from the nearest preserve, so the snake had traveled through a fair amount of developed property to get there.

A drainage corridor behind the homes connects back to the preserve, which Marissa suspects was the route the snake used to reach the neighborhood. These washes and drainage areas can serve as travel corridors for wildlife, allowing snakes to move surprisingly far into developed areas without spending much time out in the open.

Marissa located the rattlesnake beneath the tree and safely captured it.

Cleaning Crew Reports a Rattlesnake, Marissa Finds Two Surprises Under the Couch

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

The cleaning crew at an Ahwatukee home spotted a snake inside and thought it was a rattlesnake. They lost sight of it but suspected it had disappeared beneath the couch.

When Marissa arrived and checked underneath, she found not one but two unexpected visitors: a baby Coachwhip and a scorpion. Neither was a rattlesnake, but both had apparently decided the couch was a reasonable place to hide.

The home sits beside a drainage that connects to a nearby desert preserve, providing a natural route for wildlife moving through the neighborhood. As for how the Coachwhip got inside, there were two likely possibilities. It may have slipped through an open door while the cleaning crew was coming and going, or it could have squeezed through a substantial gap beneath the door leading to the garage.

At this size, a young Coachwhip doesn’t need much room to get into trouble.

Marissa safely collected both animals and released them into suitable desert habitat nearby.

A Baby Rattlesnake Waiting at the Front Door Before Work

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

A North Phoenix homeowner was heading out to work when he discovered a baby rattlesnake coiled beside his front door. Not exactly what you expect to find on your way out in the morning.

Rather than trying to move the snake himself, he kept an eye on it as it began slithering around the front yard. By the time Marissa arrived, the little rattlesnake had moved away from the doorway, but the homeowner knew exactly where it was.

The home sits across the street from a large stretch of native desert, so a young rattlesnake wandering onto the property isn’t particularly surprising. At this age, rattlesnakes are dispersing through the landscape and occasionally end up in places like front porches and entryways.

Marissa safely captured the little rattlesnake and removed it from the property.

A Monster Sonoran Gophersnake Mistaken for a Rattlesnake in Anthem

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

An Anthem couple was outside with their dogs when they noticed the dogs investigating a large snake near their backyard shed. Thinking it was a rattlesnake, they brought the dogs away and gave us a call.

When Marissa arrived, she had some good news. The snake wasn’t a rattlesnake at all, but an absolutely enormous Sonoran Gophersnake.

The property had a very large backyard, but almost no vegetation or natural cover. The shed area was one of the few places where a snake could find some protection from the sun and predators. With native desert surrounding the property, it wasn’t surprising that a snake had found its way into the yard.

Once the homeowners learned that their visitor was a harmless Sonoran Gophersnake, they decided to let it stay.

And this wasn’t just a big Gophersnake. According to Marissa, this thing was a beast.

What Happens to Rattlesnakes During Heavy Rain?

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

Arizona has been getting a lot of rain lately, with the remnants of Pacific hurricanes bringing one storm after another across the state. While the cooler, wet weather might seem like it would keep rattlesnakes from moving around, we’re still getting calls for rattlesnakes showing up around homes.

We respond to several of these calls during the ongoing rain, finding rattlesnakes tucked into sheltered areas around patios, doorways, and other parts of homes. We look at what these snakes are doing during the storms, how the rain affects their behavior, and what we would normally expect from rattlesnakes in Arizona this time of year as temperatures start to drop.

A Rattlesnake Slips Into an Ahwatukee Backyard While the Dogs Are Outside

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

An Ahwatukee homeowner was outside with his dogs when he noticed a snake slithering along the side of his house. He quickly got the dogs inside and called us to come take a look.

When Marissa arrived, she found the rattlesnake hiding beneath a covered patio chair, not far from where the homeowner had originally spotted it.

There wasn’t much cover in the rest of the backyard, so the shaded space beneath the chair was probably one of the better hiding places available.

Across the street, a large drainage connects the neighborhood to some good native desert habitat. Corridors like these can provide routes for wildlife moving between natural areas and developed neighborhoods, occasionally bringing rattlesnakes into backyards along the way.

Fortunately, the homeowner spotted this one before either of his dogs got too close.

A Rattlesnake Was Waiting Just Outside the Doggy Door

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

An Ahwatukee homeowner discovered a rattlesnake coiled in her dog’s run, just a short distance from the doggy door.

The dog had already been let outside several times before anyone noticed the snake. Fortunately, the two apparently never crossed paths, despite the rattlesnake being right beside the spot where the dog was coming and going.

The rest of the backyard didn’t have much cover, but the dog run offered plenty of shade and protection. For a rattlesnake looking for somewhere to settle during the day, it was probably one of the better spots on the property. Unfortunately, it was also one of the worst places for a snake and a dog to share.

The home backs directly against South Mountain Preserve, so rattlesnakes occasionally moving onto the property isn’t surprising.

Marissa responded and located the snake in the covered area beside the doggy door. A close call, but fortunately one that ended without an encounter between the dog and the rattlesnake.

A Baby Rattlesnake Spends the Night in a Scottsdale Office

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

The cleaning crew at a Scottsdale office building spotted a baby rattlesnake inside one of the offices late at night. They closed the door and placed a towel underneath it to keep the little snake contained until we could get there.

When Marissa arrived, she found the neonate coiled behind a cabinet in the office.

The building is surrounded by desert, so finding a rattlesnake in the area isn’t especially surprising. Getting inside the building was probably pretty easy, too. Marissa noticed small gaps beneath and between several of the doors, all large enough for a snake this size to squeeze through.

It’s a good reminder that even buildings with seemingly well-sealed doors can have openings large enough for very young snakes to enter.

Marissa safely captured the little rattlesnake and removed it from the office.

A Cat Finds a Western Diamondback in the Backyard

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

The homeowner was in her backyard when she noticed her cat staring intently at something. When she went to investigate, she discovered this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake getting into a defensive coil.

Fortunately, she got the cat away from the situation and kept an eye on the rattlesnake from a safe distance until Gary arrived.

Gary safely captured the Western Diamondback and found a suitable packrat nest for release within its presumed home range and an appropriate distance from the home.

Another case where the cat noticed the snake before the human did, although investigating it personally is one part of the job we’d prefer they leave to us.

A Baby Western Diamondback at the Front Door

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

The homeowner had just seen a snake in the road while out for a walk, which apparently put snakes on her radar. When she got home, she decided to take a closer look at her own front porch and, sure enough, there was a baby Western Diamondback Rattlesnake curled up beside the doormat.

The neighborhood is surrounded by desert, although this particular home sits closer to the middle. Jeff suspects the little rattlesnake may have traveled in from a wash along the western edge of the neighborhood.

While checking the rest of the property, Jeff also picked up a bonus scorpion before taking the Western Diamondback out for release.

He found a good packrat nest for the little snake, although the current resident apparently wasn’t consulted about the arrangement. As soon as the rattlesnake went in, the packrat quickly exited out the back.

Hopefully they can work out the roommate situation.