As the monsoon season progresses, our team gets busier than ever. The baby rattlesnakes start being born with the incoming humidity, and snakes of all age classes and species are on the move. This begins the most critical period in their lives — the late-season push to eat as much as possible and make the best of the last hot part of the year. If the babies don’t succeed in hunting now, they may not survive the winter.
For our snake prevention team, this also means that our standards are put to the test. Tiny baby rattlesnakes are on the move, and any gaps in a backyard are an entryway. With no room for error, our team must be on point at all times. Thankfully, the training and attention to detail get the job done.
Here are stories and photographs from our monsoon snake removal and prevention projects. This is just a small portion, but enough to get the picture.
A late night call to Ahwatukee to capture a little Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in the backyard. As Bryce walked the snake out to its release location, he spotted three others hanging out in the branches trying to stay cool. This is a great indication that the release spot is ideal habitat.
This pair of Desert Spiny Lizards lives at Dave’s place in Marana, where they wait for him like this to get some mealworms 🙂 These are common lizards to see at homes in Arizona, where they make good use of the stucco and block walls.
This is a common situation in Arizona. AC units offer shade and an often undisturbed space to hide out. This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was hiding out in a Vail backyard. Dave relocated the snake to a carefully selected situation.
This little Mojave Rattlesnake was hiding out in some unused pots on the back patio of a Marana home. Any cover will work, especially on covered patios and entryways. The snake was relocated to suitable habitat for the species with consideration for the conditions.
We worked with the homeowners association of this property to modify our rattlesnake fencing to match the community’s aesthetics, without sacrificing any of the functional elements that are critical to its function. We’re thankful for communities that understand and respect homeowners need to maintain a safe environment. Brent and Elias did great on this one!
Two different Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes found in exactly the same spot two weeks apart. It’s safe to say that in situations like this, the actual issue is something in the immediate area that rattlesnakes are finding useful. Both of these were relocated safely to elsewhere in their home range.
A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake taking cover under a patio overhang.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake hanging out on a Tucson back patio.
In the flat grasslands around Prescott Valley, the Mojave Rattlesnake is the most common visitor to homes. This one was using the shade of a building in the area when spotted by the property owner. Dane went out to help it along to a better area.
A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake found deep in a warehouse in the east valley. It was apparently wanting to help with some cleaning up, but the property manager thought that was best left to the employees. CJ found it a much better spot under a big velvet mesquite tree near a wash.
Rattlesnake Fencing requires very specific measurements and features in order to work. Based on much testing and study of the behavior of all rattlesnake species in the state, it’s something best left to specialists.
The owners of a horse ranch in Scottsdale watched this curious Western Diamondback Rattlesnake crawl through a broken window and into a vacant barn used for storage. It had likely been staying here for quite awhile. Bryce was called out to move it to elsewhere within its estimated home range.
A familiar situation: a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake taking advantage of the pool equipment – this time to prepare to give birth to babies. These areas of properties tend to be tucked away and can provide access to rodents and a lot of shaded areas, and are one of the most common locations where we find rattlesnakes. Bryce was very gentle with this one to make sure its babies were not damaged, and found a great replacement rookery.
Bryce found FOUR gravid (pregnant) Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes at one home in Fountain Hills. They were using different areas of the property to thermoregulate as they prepared to give birth any day at that point. He found a perfect aestivation cave within their estimated home range where they’d be safe and could have their babies without danger.
The first baby snake of the year for Bryce, back on the last day of July. It’s a hatchling Coachwhip, which will likely grow to be big, fast, and bright pink! He moved it to a great spot to start out its life, away from the backyard where it was captured.
This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was very pregnant at the time of its capture in the north valley on the last day in July. Extreme care must be taken in finding the perfect location for snakes in this condition, as well as gentle handling, to make sure her and her babies are not damaged.
A back courtyard gate with some new functionality – keeping rattlesnakes out.
RJ searched the area during a break on a rattlesnake fence installation, and found the reason the homeowners were wise to be getting it done. This small Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was likely an occasional visitor to the backyard, but will have to get a drink in someone else’ pool from now on.
This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was spotted under a wood patio extension in Anthem. James was called up to capture and relocate it to a better situation.
A little Western Diamondback Rattlesnake found on the patio of a home near the base of South Mountain in Phoenix. CJ carefully relocated it to a better situation.
This Sonoran Gophersnake was called in as a rattlesnake, and disappeared into lantana before Bryce arrived. He was able to find it, and the homeowners learned about these harmless snakes. Keeping a big snake in the yard is something to get used to for many people, so the snake was moved a short distance to carefully selected microhabitat within its home range.
This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was just barely visible in a lanatana. The pattern of a rattlesnake can do a great job of breaking up its shape, making it very difficult to pick out of chaotic patterns, especially in dappled light. Bryce captured it and relocated it directly to carefully selected cover.
Another backyard that won’t be worrying about rattlesnakes next year. This one involved a lot of deep trenching, and more technique below the surface to prevent rodents from digging under it.
While Bryce was on route to a rattlesnake removal in Scottsdale, a bobcat showed up and killed a cottontail. It didn’t run off, instead watching the relocation from ~15 yards away. The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was safely captured and relocated directly to cover within its estimated home range.
While searching a property for rattlesnakes, Marissa found this red-eared slider in an underground control space. These invasive turtles are common in city ponds and waterways.
Basements are rare in Arizona, but when there is one, these deep window wells often become traps for a variety of wildlife. This one caught three Sonoran Desert Toads, which were fortunately seen in time to be rescued and relocated to the proper area.
The standard “rattlesnake by the front door” situation that we run into daily in the Phoenix area. The covered entryways can provide cool cover that wildlife can find useful. This one was in north Phoenix, and relocated carefully to very specific surroundings.
That’s it for this one! More Arizona snake removal stories in the next post.
