The homeowner and his dogs had just stepped into the backyard through the sliding glass door when they heard the unmistakable sound of a rattle. They quickly spotted the snake, and he was able to get his pups safely back inside without incident. The yard itself didn’t offer much cover, but around the corner of the back patio there was a small drain pipe, about three inches in diameter, buried into the ground. That likely served as a winter refuge where the snake had been sheltering. This large Scottsdale community is surrounded by small patches of desert woven between the homes, which can provide enough habitat for rattlesnakes to overwinter and move through the area as temperatures rise.