Cleaning and resetting rattlesnake enclosures after winter! I’m working with Mojave rattlesnakes and Western Diamondbacks—doing some routine maintenance while talking through how I got each of them and clearing up some common myths, especially about Mojaves. I also show a few of my “odd” Western Diamondbacks and why those particular individuals can be a bit more complicated to work with
Springtime is when most rattlesnakes have one thing on their minds—reproducing. Lately, many of our calls have involved snakes that are courting, breeding, or males engaged in combat. In this video, Marissa responds to a call where this behavior was unfolding right on a homeowner’s front patio. Afterwards, a Sonoran Gophersnake was found in a front yard in Ahwatukee.
Marissa responds to a call that doesn’t happen every day—two rattlesnakes mating inside a homeowner’s garage. This time of year, reproduction becomes a top priority, and snakes will travel, take risks, and end up in some unexpected places to find each other.
Later, another “two snake” call comes in—but with a twist. One is a rattlesnake, the other turns out to be a Sonoran gophersnake tucked beneath an AC unit. These spots are more than just convenient hiding places—shaded, cool, and often undermined by rodent burrows, they create the perfect microhabitat for snakes trying to escape the desert heat.
Marissa was first called out to remove two Western Diamondbacks found mating in a backyard. A few days later, she was called back – this time for two more rattlesnakes just outside the fence.
While handling the situation, she got to witness something pretty cool — two male rattlesnakes engaged in combat.
Four snakes, two visits, and a cool insight into typical springtime rattlesnake behavior.
During the colder months, Bryan spent time out in the field observing rattlesnakes at their winter dens to see what they’re actually doing this time of year. While most people imagine snakes sleeping all winter long, the reality is a lot more interesting. Rattlesnakes gather in rocky dens and remain mostly inactive, but they aren’t always asleep, and on winter days, or even on cold nights, they may shift positions, bask near den entrances, get a drink from rain, or move around within the den.
Understanding this part of their life cycle helps explain why snakes suddenly seem to “appear” in the spring — they were here the whole time, just tucked away in the right places.
Spring in the desert means one thing for us: the relocation phone starts ringing again. Rattlesnakes are beginning to move after spending the winter in their dens, and that means our team is back out responding to calls across the Valley.
Some of the first relocations of the season are already coming in, and in a few cases homeowners are realizing that a rattlesnake may have been in their yard all winter without anyone knowing. As temperatures warm, these snakes begin to emerge and move around the landscape again.
Despite the headlines you might be seeing, rattlesnake season isn’t “starting early.” This is right on schedule for the Sonoran Desert. In this episode we respond to a few early-season calls and talk about what’s actually happening with rattlesnakes this time of year.
Marissa gets called to a shady courtyard in Phoenix where a big Western Diamondback is hiding under a bike. With a preserve and golf course nearby, it’s not hard to see how this snake got so large. Lots of food, good habitat, and plenty of cover.
Bryan responds to a rattlesnake on a front porch, sitting in the shade trying to stay cool. This is common in the summer. Snakes look for shade anywhere they can find it, and sometimes that means right up against a house.
Snakes aren’t invincible predators. A single bite from a rodent can severely injure or even kill a snake. This is why venom exists: not just to kill prey, but to avoid dangerous physical fights. Here’s a real and unfortunate case showing how fragile snakes actually are, and our attempt to save one from an unfortunate encounter with a rabbit that it ate.
Garages are one of the most common places we find snakes—and not just in the summer. In this one we respond to multiple snake calls involving garages and break down why rattlesnakes and gophersnakes are so drawn to them throughout the year. From extreme summer heat to cold winter nights, garages often provide exactly what snakes are looking for: stable temperatures, shelter, and prey.
People ask all the time—residents, soon-to-be residents, everyone—“Does my city have a lot of rattlesnakes?” and “How likely am I to actually see one?”
In this episode, we break it down so you can figure it out for yourself. We show you how to tell whether your neighborhood is one where rattlesnakes show up often, and what makes an encounter more or less likely.
Then we dive into a few calls from last year—taken right out of picture-perfect neighborhoods that still saw their fair share of rattlesnakes.
