A defensive Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in Scottsdale. This guy didn’t stop rattling from the moment CJ stepped into the backyard until the time he was released.
The property sat at the base of a boulder-strewn hill that was all private land, so CJ took the snake a bit farther to suitable public habitat.
He released it into deep cover among granite boulders within its estimated home range, in an area with clear signs of recent rodent activity.
First call of the year for CJ was hard to get a photo of in situ. The caller spotted this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake poking around their neighbor’s porch before it settled into the eave of the house behind an aloe.
A classic case of the home being the closest structure to an open wash.
The area was heavily developed, so CJ took the snake farther than preferred to suitable public land. He found an active rodent nest atop a sandy terrace of a wash, shaded by creosote and Lycium, and released it there. Cave Creek.
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.
An Ahwatukee homeowner called about this large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake slithering along his backyard wall. By the time Austin arrived, the snake had retreated into a corner.
The home backs right up to South Mountain, with plenty of surrounding habitat, so it’s no surprise this guy was in the area.
Austin hiked the snake into the preserve and released it to a rock pile within its estimated home range near the base of a hill, with a large drainage below so the snake can continue its springtime activities.
A homeowner in Fountain Hills called about this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in her backyard. She went to let the dogs out, and luckily, the snake rattled and was far enough from the door that no one was bitten when they came outside.
Austin arrived and safely relocated the snake to a wash within its estimated home range, placing it into deep cover inside a packrat nest under a large tree.
This is likely the same Western Diamondback that was inside of the house just an hour earlier.
The homeowner spotted the snake, opened the front door, and let the snake see itself out. About an hour later, the snake was found trying to hide under some landscaping. After searching the property, it seems very likely that, after exiting through the front door, the snake simply followed the foundation of the home until it found the drain hole in the block leading to the backyard.
This house was near a mountain, but also situated deep in the neighborhood, nowhere near any sort of drainage. The homeowner later said that the sliding glass patio door had been left slightly open, and he thinks the snake probably found its way in through the gap. He was confident that it was the same snake, which now has a new home in a packrat nest in the rocks on the nearby mountain.
This homeowner found a juvenile Western Diamondback Rattlesnake tucked into the corner of her garage behind some gardening tools. When Josh arrived, he carefully captured the snake and relocated it to suitable habitat within its estimated home range, where it was released into a rodent burrow.
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.
This homeowner, a previous customer, has had several Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes in her yard before, which isn’t surprising with Saguaro National Park just a stone’s throw away. Her landscaper was clearing weeds along the property when he spotted this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. When we arrived, the snake had started making its way toward a gate, but we were able to secure it in the bucket before it made it out. It was then released to a wash within its estimated home range into a deep rodent burrow.
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.
