Category: Keep Snakes Away

Silent Rattlesnake at Cave Creek Front Door

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

These homeowners were already familiar with the routine of “babysitting” a rattlesnake while waiting for our arrival. This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake had first been spotted by neighbors crossing the road before eventually bedding down in the lantana ground cover directly beside the front door of their Cave Creek home.

This marked the third rattlesnake call from this property within the past year, which is not entirely surprising considering the home sits on a corner lot bordering one of the last small fragments of remaining desert habitat surrounded by expanding gated communities.

Interestingly, this snake had an enormous rattle that seemed to go on forever, yet it never made a single sound during the sighting or relocation process. Alivia noted the rattlesnake had an exceptionally calm and unreactive demeanor overall.

To give the snake a better setup away from homes, Alivia relocated it to a very large active packrat nest farther from nearby buildings where it would have access to both shelter and a reliable food source within its estimated home range.

The Truth About Rattlesnakes and Heat

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This time of year in Arizona, one of the most common things we hear is that rattlesnakes “love the heat.” The reality is a little different. Like anything else out here, rattlesnakes have to deal with extreme temperatures too, and once it gets too hot, they adjust their behavior to stay out of it.

Marissa responds to a home with two rattlesnakes tucked in beside pool equipment. Jeff heads out after dark for a large western diamondback in a flower box in a neighborhood surrounded by new development. Down in Tucson, Josh is called to a backyard for a rattlesnake and ends up finding another one unexpectedly on the way.

A Lot of Snakes at One Tucson Home

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

Some great examples of our snake fence team at work.

While arriving for an install, Josh conducted a thorough pre-inspection and found a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake sitting in ambush near the fence line. He safely secured it in a bucket, gave it some water, and kept it in the shade until the job was complete. Afterward, he released it into a nearby wash with a deep cave that provided suitable cover within its estimated home range. Later that day, Mike came across a California Kingsnake cruising along the newly installed mesh from the outside. To prevent it from getting trapped during the second day of work, Josh relocated it to a nearby area with a partially buried board and active rodent sign. Before release, he removed a cholla spine from its lower jaw, hopefully relieving some discomfort, and placed it back into suitable habitat within its estimated home range.

Rattlesnake Under a Package

Posted on by Bryan Hughes


The homeowner went to grab this package when she noticed something didn’t look quite right. Not sure how she managed to spot the snake sitting there next to it, but she did. Instead of getting any closer, she quickly shut the door and called us to come take a look. When we arrived the snake was still right where she had seen it. The home sits right next to a desert drainage that leads out to a larger stretch of open desert about half a mile away, which makes it easy for snakes to move through the area. After safely securing the snake, we relocated it to suitable habitat along that drainage where it could quickly disappear back into the desert. Scottsdale.

Snake Fenced Gate

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

A tight installation of rattlesnake prevention materials to this patio gate from Daylan and Elias. It’s a shady spot by design, which can’t be ignored by wildlife that are also looking to get out of the heat. Covered patios emulate natural locations where rattlesnakes can naturally be found aestivating during the summer, and snake fencing is an effective way of making sure there are no surprises.