This homeowner went out to grab the trash cans from the backyard when she moved one and immediately heard a rattle. Underneath was a juvenile Western Diamondback Rattlesnake coiled tightly in the shade.
Marissa noted that this Laveen community is still relatively new and is surrounded by reservation land, which means wildlife activity in the area is still very common. The backyard itself had been completely cleared of vegetation, leaving the trash cans as the snake’s only available source of shade and cover.
The young snake was safely relocated to suitable nearby habitat within its estimated home range.
