This clever little gophersnake almost outsmarted everyone. I thoroughly searched the N. Phoenix garage, which was very clean and offered very few hiding spots and was beginning to think the snake had slipped out unnoticed. I had the homeowner close the garage door so we could check the gaps, only to discover that it had been watching us from above the entire time. Thankfully it was completely unharmed and is now living on the ground floor of a large packrat nest. – Jason
An evening call in the Red Mountain area. The homeowner was working in the garage and his young nephew was just outside the backdoor of the shop playing when he noticed a rattlesnake moving about the rocks just outside the doorway, after alerting his uncle, I was called out to relocate the snake who had gone further down the side of the building and settled into a large pile of tile and brick materials. After the snake was contained they pointed out a Chuckwalla who sleeps every night between the gap along the side of the garage 😍 . The snake was released far from buildings within its home range into this cozy packrat nest for continued food and shelter. – Alivia
Josh received a call from a homeowner who had found a Sonoran Gophersnake sticking its head out of an irrigation valve box in the backyard. Unsure if it was a rattlesnake, the homeowner called for help and described the snake over the phone. Based on the description, Josh explained that it sounded like a Sonoran Gophersnake and reassured him that these snakes are harmless and beneficial for rodent control.
As they were talking, the situation became a little more interesting. The homeowner suddenly spotted a large adult Western Diamondback Rattlesnake cruising through the grass straight toward the irrigation box. Josh immediately headed that way.
While he was en route, the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake apparently decided it wanted to share accommodations with the Sonoran Gophersnake and joined it inside the irrigation box. Upon arrival, Josh carefully opened the lid using his tongs and found both snakes together inside.
The homeowner was happy to leave the Sonoran Gophersnake where it was but requested that the rattlesnake be removed. The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was safely secured and released to a wash within its estimated home range, where it quickly disappeared into a deep rodent burrow.
A young Western Diamondback Rattlesnake relocated by Jon in Carefree recently.
Dave had been called out to a home in Marana for a Gila Monster, but despite an extensive search, it was nowhere to be found. Several hours later, he received a second call when the Gila Monster made another appearance and was spotted heading toward the front porch. Fortunately, this time it stayed put long enough to be safely located and removed. The surrounding area offered plenty of suitable habitat, and the animal was released to an area within its estimated home range, with extra care to find the right location.
An early season Tiger Rattlesnake from a home in the Catalina Foothills. Dave had been to this same property a few weeks earlier to remove a sizable Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, making this the second rattlesnake encounter for these homeowners in a short period of time. Fortunately, this beautiful Tiger was safely removed and released to suitable habitat within its estimated home range.
These snakes can be found with intent during much of the year, but calls for them to our relocation line are more typically in the monsoon through October.
A collection of recent photographs of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, as they were found on properties when Dave arrived to relocate them.
These kinds of photos aren’t meant to show you a close up of the snake … there is more than enough of that out there. Instead, these help people understand the kinds of places where a snake could be found, and potentially help build contextual awareness for homeowners. We have heard countless times at this point from homeowners who would have never seen a rattlesnake in a place they were about to step or place a hand if it weren’t for the daily reminders and in situ context from these kinds of photos. So, if you’re about to comment something like “i cant see it its too smallllll!”, now you know the purpose 🙂
Marissa responded to a Paradise Valley home after a FedEx driver spotted a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake near the road in front of the property. The snake moved into a nearby bush before the homeowner could get a closer look. Upon arrival, she found it coiled quietly beneath the shrub exactly where it had taken cover. The property featured a large yard with lush, well-watered vegetation that provided plenty of shelter, while a mountain preserve directly across the street offered excellent natural habitat. The snake was safely captured and released to a wash within its estimated home range.
Marissa responded to a Scottsdale home after the homeowner’s landscapers spotted a Sonoran Gophersnake tangled in garden netting near the garden. The snake had been seen the day before and was still stuck when the homeowner called for help. Fortunately, the cooler weather likely helped it avoid more serious injury. The netting had caused some scale damage where it was constricting the snake’s body, and it appeared a few developing eggs in her belly may have contributed to her becoming entangled. The property backed to a golf course with a view fence, and the community contained several patches of desert habitat that support local wildlife. After being freed, she was released to a wash within her estimated home range.
This young Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was found at an apartment complex near Loop 101 and Hayden in Scottsdale. Unfortunately, much of the surrounding desert habitat has recently been bulldozed for new construction, which likely displaced this snake along with many other native animals in the area.
Austin was able to safely relocate the rattlesnake to a healthier patch of nearby desert habitat that currently appears safe from development pressure. The new location offered much better cover and long-term shelter opportunities within the snake’s estimated home range.
