Another unwelcome visitor turned up at a local community center in North Phoenix. By the time Jon arrived, the snake had already moved from a side entry door into an agave, where he was able to carefully remove it. He then released it to a packrat nest atop a rock pile on the adjacent mountain, placing it into suitable cover within its estimated home range.
From Jason: I arrived in the late evening to a call to a parking lot in North Phoenix. On the sidewalk next to a busy street, I found an overturned bucket weighed down with a very heavy rock and an ominous sign taped to it. I was warned that a “very good sized snake” was waiting for me just beneath.
I prepared for something truly massive, but what I found was slightly less remarkable… a younger Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.
While the area itself is a concrete jungle, it’s full of lush, dense landscaping that provides plenty of places for a now street-smart snake to spend its first winter.
I was able to find a packrat nest in what remains of the nearby native desert, and because of the caring individuals who made the call, this snake just might one day become “a good size.”
Well, that’s not good. A homeowner was working from her office when she spotted this adult Western Diamondback Rattlesnake inside. She mentioned seeing a snake in her garage the day before and assumed it was likely the same one. Typically, indoor calls like this turn out to be Night Snakes or Gophersnakes, so finding an adult Western Diamondback Rattlesnake inside was a surprise.
Jeff relocated the snake to suitable habitat within its estimated home range, placing it into a packrat nest surrounded by bushes and a lone mesquite tree.
Another beautiful day for sunbathing. This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was enjoying the warmth at a home in Cave Creek, an area where many houses sit right alongside excellent desert habitat. The homeowners had only recently moved in, and this was their first snake visitor. The snake was lounging nearby when the homeowner came up from the wine cellar and noticed it, and we were immediately called. When Jon arrived, the snake was still calmly in place and he was able to secure it without any trouble. He then released it in a nearby wash under the cover of a packrat nest built over a rock formation.
A north Phoenix homeowner called in a bit of a panic. They had just stepped out to go into their garage when a loud rattling was heard just underfoot. With a quick peek at the tail before slamming the door shut, they correctly identified the sound as a rattlesnake. They kept the garage door shut until Maggie arrived to ensure it stayed put. Upon her arrival, it took a few minutes to locate the snake as it had moved across the garage and coiled up under some cords. She was able to release the snake into a packrat nest in suitable desert habitat.
This poor snake was discovered halfway out of a rodent trap box in a front yard in Cave Creek. The head was clamped badly, for an unknown amount of time. Amazingly, once Marissa carefully got it out of there, it showed signs that it would be ok once the swelling went down, and was released.
A very typical snake relocation call for this time of year – a homeowner went into the garage and heard a rattle, and knew exactly what it was. The garage door was left open for awhile earlier in the day, which is likely when this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake entered looking for a safe winter spot. Marissa helped the snake get to a better location.
