This beautiful Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was taking a dip in the family pool. The homeowner was doing some work on the pool when he spotted him swimming near the water feature. A few months ago, the homeowner was envenomated by a neonate Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, so this encounter understandably had him on edge and ready to call right away. Jon safely removed the snake and released him to suitable habitat within his estimated home range under the cover of a large rodent burrow.
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, the homeowner heard her dog crying outside, as if something had happened. She quickly rushed out, brought her dog inside, and noticed some swelling on its face. Concerned, she took the dog to the vet, who confirmed it had been bitten by a rattlesnake. A few hours later, she called us to check the yard. When Marissa arrived, she saw the snake moving along the side of the fence in the backyard. The home was surrounded by desert and was located right beside a wash. The dog was still at the vet when I got there. This incident took place in Scottsdale.
The previous night, one of the dogs at this house came back with a swollen nose. Then, the others’ neck started to swell, and off to the vet they went. We got a call to try and find the snake in the yard, and Marissa found a baby Western Diamondback Rattlesnake hiding out in some unused roof tiles, where it was likely planning to spend the winter. The snake got a ride to a better spot to be, and both dogs returned home just fine.
