Category: Snake Removal

Western Diamondback Mom and Babies

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This homeowner had been out of town, and when she returned her landscaper let her know there was a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake coiled in the corner of her home near the front door. Apparently, he had seen her in the same spot two weeks earlier and then again today. When the homeowner took a closer look, she noticed several little babies with mom.

Marissa arrived and found that mom had actually picked a pretty good spot. The corner was shady and tucked away, with a drip system keeping the ground damp during the summer heat. The home also backed right up to South Mountain, providing plenty of suitable habitat just beyond the property.

Three Baby Western Diamondbacks in a Drain

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

The homeowner had security come out first after finding baby Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes at the mouth of this drain pipe. They removed two, but she was understandably concerned there could be more hiding farther inside.

Michael came out to check the pipe and was able to find one more baby Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. He safely removed it and relocated it to a packrat nest in suitable habitat.

Young Western Diamondback Meets Development

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This baby Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, striking out on his own for the first time, ended up in a North Phoenix parking lot that wasn’t even there a year ago. Unfortunately, much of the remaining habitat in the area is also being smothered by invasive grasses and stinknet.

CJ was able to find a wash that hadn’t been too overrun yet, along with a deep rodent nest shaded by a palo verde on the western bank. The little Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was released into the burrow, giving him a much better place to continue figuring out life in an increasingly developed landscape.

When Amatuer Snake Fencing Becomes a Rattlesnake Trap

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

A landscaping company installed “snake fencing” at a property. But, not knowing anything about snakes or how that whole thing works, it didn’t work at all.

This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake managed to find one of those openings and get into the yard. The problem was getting back out. With fencing surrounding the property, the snake was actively pacing the yard trying to find its way back toward the natural boulder habitat behind the home.

Alivia contained the rattlesnake and gave it some water after all that activity. Although the community was designed with plenty of natural habitat between the homes, we decided a nearby preserve within its estimated home range would provide a better situation farther from buildings.

Alivia found a similar boulder pile in the preserve and guided the now-hydrated Western Diamondback Rattlesnake directly into a protected hole at its base.

Rattlesnake fencing can be extremely effective, but the details matter. If gaps or weak points allow a snake to get through, the rest of the fence can actually make it more difficult for that same snake to find its way back out.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Tucked Beside a North Phoenix Front Door

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was found coiled near the front entrance of a North Phoenix home, tucked into a corner behind a bush. The family did a great job keeping an eye on the snake from a safe distance while Alivia was on the way, making sure its location wasn’t lost before she arrived.

After safely capturing the rattlesnake, Alivia took it out of the residential neighborhood while keeping it within its estimated home range. A remaining patch of desert alongside a hilly area provided much better options away from homes.

There, she found a densely vegetated wash bordered by steep rock walls and a deep hole that provided excellent natural shelter. The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was released into the hole, giving it a protected place to disappear underground and continue on away from the neighborhood.

Gila Monster Finds a Way Home

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This homeowner is a previous customer who discovered a Gila Monster on her property last week. She waited to see if it would leave on its own, but after several days became concerned it may be unable to leave.

When we arrived, the Gila Monster was resting behind a cabinet on the back porch. We moved the furniture, safely secured it in the bucket, and kept it in the shade while we explored the property for an appropriate release site.

The homeowner has a background in wildlife conservation and gave permission to relocate the Gila Monster elsewhere on her property, so she tagged along for the release. We eventually found a large, deep cave with a rocky internal structure that provided excellent shelter while keeping the Gila Monster very close to where it was originally found.

A Rattlesnake Without a Rattle in a North Phoenix Garage

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

A rattlesnake without a rattle!

The homeowner was backing his car into the garage when he noticed a rattlesnake coiled beside the water heater in the back corner. The garage itself was sealed very well, but the homeowner said the door is sometimes left open, providing a likely opportunity for the snake to wander inside.

The North Phoenix home backs up to a large drainage that connects to State Trust Land, providing a natural travel corridor for wildlife through the area.

What made this rattlesnake especially interesting was what it didn’t have. The end of its tail and the entire rattle were missing. Everything was completely healed, so it may have been the result of an old injury or possibly something the snake had lived with since birth.

Marissa safely removed the rattlesnake from the garage and got it back out of the home.

Tiny Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Already Out on Its Own

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

This tiny Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was found hanging out in the landscaping of a Cave Creek home. Given its size, Jason spent quite a while searching the surrounding area for its mother or any siblings that might still be nearby.

After a thorough search turned up nothing, it appeared this little rattlesnake was already out on its own.

Fortunately, Jason found it some pretty impressive accommodations nearby: a very large packrat nest with plenty of protected space underground. It’s the kind of place its brothers and sisters might be a little envious of, wherever they ended up.

Snakes Found During Snake Property Inspection Service

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

Our fastest-growing service are recurring property inspections at large properties and communities. We’ve been doing this for awhile for an HOA in Scottsdale. Here are some notes from the latest session:

The south side of the community closely borders a wash area that is overgrown with brush, and the overgrowth is creeping its way up the hill close to the backside of the homes where the A/C unit condensation drains and the Community Trash Area are located.

I first found this shed skin belonging to an adolescent coachwhip heading from the holes back to the wash, likely after getting a drink from the A/C drains.

A few feet later, I found this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake heading back into the wash after likely doing the same thing!

I recommended that the property management cut the brush between the community and the wash as much as possible, with emphasis on the community trash area, as the brush cover makes it safer for wildlife like rattlesnakes to venture closer to the community.

The rattlesnake was released away from the community in a pile of brush under a tree, following our standard relocation protocol.

For more information on our Property Inspection service: https://rattlesnakesolutions.com/keep-snakes-away/rattlesnake-prevention.php

Two Mothers, 17 Babies! Tiny Rattlesnakes Safely Relocated

Posted on by Bryan Hughes

Dave was called to an abandoned building near Tucson where workers had arrived to begin demolition. Here’s what he said about it:

I was led to a room and immediately buzzed by a postpartum female Western Diamondback. After securing her,I proceeded to lift some of the stuff around where she had been coiled and quickly discovered an entire litter. Was going to try a picture, but they quickly went in different directions. 10 in all. I started going room to room. As I walked into what had obviously been an old office judging from all the papers and receipts piled on the floor, I was buzzed again. Captured a 2nd postpartum female and immediately found her litter beneath a stack of papers. 18 neonates and 2 adults. Tound a pack rat nest for the release. Sent the mamas in first and then the neonates one at a time.