Things slow down considerably in November, as expected. By now, rattlesnakes are more or less in the places they intend to spend the winter. There are of course, still sightings, but the nature of these is quite different. If a rattlesnake is seen at a home this time of year, it has likely been there for awhile already, and would stay until March or so. This can also make relocation more difficult, as we must search carefully for a suitable replacement den, which requires a high level of knowledge of the animal’s natural history. This is one more reason why rattlesnake relocation is best left to professionals.
Here are just a handful of our November relocations:
This Sonoran Desert Toad was seen a few days before and showed up again in this old water feature. After we were called out to capture and relocate it, it was drained to prevent future visits.So far in this neighborhood, we’ve only ever been called out to capture Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes. On this one, however, Marissa got a nice surprise… a Blacktailed Rattlesnake. These rattlesnakes, even though they are quite common, are relatively rarely found at surrounding homes compared to other species. Relocation of one of these takes some extra care, and Marissa made sure that happened.This Sonoran Gophersnake was found in a mountain-side apartment complex. It was requested to be moved back to the mountain, so off it goes.The family dog spotted this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake from inside the house, through a window. It was in a well developed part of town, having survived entirely within backyards for who knows how long. It was relocated carefully.This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake thought this trench was a nice little humid spot for a nap, but the homeowners disagreed. It was relocated safely and responsibly.A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake. This home is right up against a mountain in Phoenix, and this pretty species of rattlesnake is one of the most common to encounter in the area. It was, as always, relocated safely to a carefully-selected location.On a recent property inspection, Marissa found a couple of Western Diamondback Rattlesnake hiding out. We’re often called to inspect a property to advise on situations that might attract rattlesnakes, and it’s not uncommon to actually find rattlesnakes in those spots during the process. They were relocated responsibly and the homeowners advised of methods to avoid this situation in the future.While disposing of garbage in the trash cans at the rear of the house, the homeowner heard a rattling sound. Upon investigation, she discovered a rattlesnake inside a box meant for rodents. The homeowner mentioned that the snake had recently crawled into the box. Upon opening the box, there were two snakes – one already dead and the other stuck. Marissa managed to free the stuck snake, and it should recover. Scottsdale, AZA home in a large desert tract had a visitor, seen over the past few days. After it appeared again by the front door, the homeowner called it in for relocation. It has been denning in the area, likely in an opening in the faux rock facade of the home. It’s a common misconception this time of year that rattlesnakes are searching for warm places – they are at the right places, which isn’t necessarily warm. In the low desert, moisture retention is a major factor in den site selection, and they often choose areas that are stable over one that is warmer. This is one of many factors that come into play when selecting a release site.
