Expert reveals top five snakes encountered in Phoenix area

Atop the list, to no surprise, is a type of rattlesnake that is “quick to be defensive, and quite venomous.”

A company that specializes in catching and relocating snakes in Phoenix and Tucson metro areas on Monday tweeted a list of the top five types of snakes encountered by residents.

Bryan Hughes of Rattlesnake Solutions stated that the list is based on “15,000-plus snake relocation calls and almost as many identification requests.”

It might come as a relief that only one of the snakes is venomous. The list, with species details gleaned from the Rattlesnake Solutions website:

Western diamondback rattlesnake: “Can be found anywhere where neighborhoods get close to native desert habitat. These are sometimes called ‘coon-tail’ rattlesnakes. They can be identified by the rattle, white-and-black striped tail, and white-lined diamond pattern on the back.

“They are generally quick to be defensive, and quite venomous, so keep your distance and leave it alone if encountered.”

Sonoran gophersnake: “Next to the Western Diamondback, the gophersnake may be the most commonly snake seen in Arizona. This is not only due to it being incredibly common, but also because it has adapted very well to life in the city.

“They can be very large, with adults commonly exceeding 5′ or more in length. They are often mistaken for rattlesnakes because of their superficial likeness, and tendency to quickly become defensive when approached.”

Kingsnake: “Kingsnakes are medium-sized, harmless snakes. Adults in the Phoenix area are commonly in the 3′ range, with exceptional animals approaching 4′. They are generally considered as beneficial snakes, regardless of fondness for snakes, since they regularly prey on rattlesnakes.”

Desert nightsnake:  “Nightsnakes are the most common snake to see inside of the home, in our experience. They are great at getting into small cracks and even get through pipes, and end up on kitchen counters, in bathroom sinks, and all kinds of surprising places.

They are very small, generally less than a foot long, and are often mistaken as baby rattlesnakes due to their triangular head and vertical eye slits. In fact, they are completely harmless, and it would be a challenge to try to get one to try and bite.”

Long-nosed snake: “The Long-Nosed Snake is usually patterned with speckled black and white bands, with varying amounts of red or orange coloration. In addition to being often mistaken for a Kingsnake, this snake is frequently misidentified as a Sonoran Coralsnake. Long-nosed snakes are completely harmless, and almost never bite, even if provoked to an extreme level.”

Arizona has dozens of types of snakes, including 19 different rattlesnake species. Rattlesnake Solutions offers free identification for residents who can provide an image of the snake they’ve encountered.

–Western diamondback rattlesnake image courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

NY man kept 11-foot gator illegally as pet… with its own pool

The 750-pound reptile was deemed a threat to public safety and seized by authorities. The homeowner wants the gator returned.

Authorities in New York this week seized an 11-foot, 750-pound alligator that had been kept illegally as a pet by a homeowner in Hamburg.

“Time for another episode of ‘Stories We Never Thought We Would Be Telling,’ ” the New York Department of Environmental Conservation stated Friday via social media.

Among the bizarre details associated with this story: The homeowner had built an addition to his house – including an in-ground pool – to accommodate the reptile, and allowed people to swim with the gator.

According to the DEC the homeowner at one time possessed a license to keep the gator, but it expired in 2021.

The animal was seized “in the interest of public safety and the health, safety, and protection of the alligator,” the DEC explained.

WIVB reports that the homeowner, Tony Cavallaro, was confronted by law enforcement agents armed with a warrant Wednesday morning when he returned from running errands.

“Everything they did to me, they treated me like a terrorist,” Cavallaro said.

The gator is more than 30 years old and suffers from numerous health issues, including blindness in both eyes, according to the DEC.

The animal was placed with a licensed caregiver while a permanent home is sought.

WIVB reports that Cavallaro is trying to regain possession of his cherished pet, named Albert.

Can you spot the other Yellowstone critter in this spring snapshot?

Tourists who plan to visit the park after it reopens next month should expect plenty of surprises as they scour the landscape in search of wildlife.

Yellowstone National Park is plowing roads in preparation for a spring season that promises a vibrant landscape teeming with wildlife.

With this in mind I’m sharing an image I captured last spring, showing a coyote striding past tourists oblivious to its presence as they observed a cinnamon-colored black bear on the opposite side of the highway.

Can you spot the smaller critter closely watching the coyote? (Answer at the bottom of the post.)

Viewers will note the coyote’s traverse across a lush meadow bursting with wildflowers alongside a highway in the northern range.

I’ve also included images showing the cinnamon-colored black bear and a momma black bear and two cubs, which I encountered on the same afternoon a bit farther east.

Cinnamon-colored black bear and a momma black bear with cubs. Photos: ©Pete Thomas

My visit was in mid-May and I logged sightings of 14 individual bears in three days at various locations – but only the one coyote bypassing the bear jam.

By now you’ve probably spotted and identified the ground squirrel eyeing the coyote, but the critter is circled in the image posted below.

Squirrel checking out the passing predator. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

Yellowstone’s winter season recently ended and most park roads are closed. However,  plowing is underway and select roads will reopen for the spring/summer season on April 19.

–Editor’s note: A similar version of this post was published in the spring of 2023

Hunter safety has come a long way in Texas; record-low accidents

Only one hunter died as a result of a hunting accident in 2023. That’s down from 30 fatalities in 1972.

Hunting in Texas appears to be much safer these days.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, a record-low 10 hunting accidents were recorded in 2023, and only one accident resulted in a fatality.

For comparison, a record-high 30 Texas hunters died as a result of an accident in 1972.

“The staggering numbers recorded every year [in that era] showed the need for more firearm safety, which led to the creation of the Hunter Education Program,” TPWD stated Friday in a news release.

Completing the program became a requirement for hunters beginning in 1988.

“The continued decline in hunting-related accidents and fatalities is in large part due to the efforts of the TPWD Hunter Education Program and the many Hunter Education instructors across the state, many of whom are volunteers,” said Steve Hall, TPWD Hunter Education coordinator.

“Beyond safety, we teach hunters how to be legal, ethical, take a good shot and take care of game from field to fork.”

Only one hunting-related fatality has been recorded in each of the last four years in Texas.

–Generic hunting image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Watch: Yellowstone coyotes ‘duke it out’ over prize buried in snow

Video footage reveals a dramatic scene involving two coyotes fighting over a bison carcass in Yellowstone National Park.

A guide leading a tour in Yellowstone National Park this week captured dramatic footage showing two coyotes battling over a presumed bison carcass buried in the snow.

The accompanying footage, captured by Yellowstone Wolf Tracker guide Michael Sypniewski, begins with one coyote launching an attack on the other coyote as it attempted to feast on the carcass.

Wolf Tracker’s description: “A couple mornings ago, Wolftracker guide @michaelwsyp and his guests watched two coyotes duke it out along the Lamar River. This intense back and forth battle went on for close to 10 minutes!”

The description continued: “Although obstructed from [the tour group’s] view, they believe the two canines were fighting over the remains of a bison carcass buried deep in the snow.”

The footage appears to show that the coyote already on the carcass was the dominant combatant.

As winter turns to spring, many of Yellowstone’s critters rely on frozen carcasses, revealed by melting snow, for sustenance.

Watch: Lion slams into safari jeep during fierce battle with rival lion

A safari jeep happened to be parked in the wrong place at the wrong time when two male lions did battle in Serengeti National Park.

Two male lions engaging in a battle for territorial or breeding rights in Tanzania did so in the midst of safari vehicles, including one that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The fierce battle occurred last week in Serengeti National Park and was captured in video by safari guide Albert Kimaro.

“The rivals were seemingly unaware of their surroundings, resulting in one being chased into the driver’s door of one of the jeeps,” the Independent reported. “After the lion stood up and walked away, the huge damage caused by the collision became visible.”

The lion that did the damage appeared no worse for wear as it walked away apparently unscathed, unlike the jeep’s door.

“I have been a guide for eight years, but I have never seen anything like this,” Albert told the Independent.

Can you spot the leopard? Photographer spotted it just in time

An amateur wildlife photographer in Africa was fortunate to have witnessed firsthand a leopard’s ability to camouflage its body.

An amateur wildlife photographer was fortunate to have witnessed firsthand a leopard’s ability to camouflage its body.

Henri Olckers, a nature lover, frequently visits South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Africa.

Olckers often posts photos on his Facebook page of the wildlife he encounters, including several involving leopards.

But images taken on the S1 tar road, near the S4 intersection, were nearly missed.

“We spotted the leopard walking and then she settled in the grass,” Olckers told USA Today/For The Win Outdoors. “If we drove past 30 seconds later, we would have missed her.”

Olckers shared three images, the last being a much closer shot. Note: The second image is repeated, revealing the leopard in the circle.

Among the reactions on Facebook:

“If you weren’t specifically looking for something…you would definitely miss it!”

“Wow, amazing.”

Some commenters thought there were two leopards hiding, but Olckers said there was only one.

Photos used with permission from Henri Olckers Wildlife Photography.  

‘Never push a slower friend down’ and other tips for bear season

Grizzly bears will soon emerge from hibernation and the National Park Service has offered humorous but also serious advice on how to stay safe.

Grizzly bears will emerge from hibernation beginning this month and the National Park Service has advised hikers to exercise common sense and avoid temptation.

“If you come across a bear, never push a slower friend down… even if you feel the friendship has run its course,” the NPS joked via X.

From a more serious followup tweet: “What about your other friend? Seeing a bear in the wild is a special treat for any visitor to a national park. While it is an exciting moment, it is important to remember that bears in national parks are wild and can be dangerous.”

The NPS then tweeted a link that offers tips for those who plan to enter bear country. They include carrying bear spray, hiking in groups, making noise on trails, maintaining a safe distance from bears you see, and avoiding surprise encounters by remaining on trails.

If you do come face to face with a grizzly bear, don’t run. Instead, talk calmly to the animal while remaining in place because fleeing could trigger an attack response. Also, be prepared to use the all-important bear spray.

Grizzly bear images courtesy of the National Parks Service

“Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms,” the NPS advised. “Help the bear recognize you as a human. It may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.”

For other NPS tips, click here. The information could keep you and your loved ones safe in the wilderness.

Golfers interrupted by a stampede of kangaroos that ‘went forever’

Video shows a rare sight of an extremely large mob of kangaroos running down the fairway, forcing golfers in Australia to step aside.

Some Australian golfers were forced to step aside and allow a stampede of kangaroos to run down their fairway, through sand traps and over the green in an encounter that seemed to last forever.

“Look at this,” Stephen Roche said as he began filming the amazing sight. “It’s a stampede. It is a fair dinkum stampede.”

The unusual interruption occurred Monday on the fourth hole of the St John course at the Heritage Golf and Country Club northeast of Melbourne. Roche posted video of the encounter on X.

Michael McCarthy shot video of the same encounter from a different angle, stating on X, “Felt like it went forever.”

Sure, kangaroos are common on Australian golf courses, but in these numbers?

“We have kangaroos on our two courses at Heritage Golf and Country Club,” Roche wrote on X. “But I’ve never seen this before.”

Someone asked if the kangaroos were tough on the greens. Roche replied, “Surprisingly no. Soft-footed animal. The only sign of them is footprints in bunkers.”

 

Boy, 11, lands record bass that will help enhance Texas fisheries

Stetson Davis set out with his father hoping to catch his first double-digit largemouth bass. He achieved that goal and then some.

An 11-year-old boy shattered a junior angler waterbody record in Texas on Wednesday with the catch of a 13.31-pound largemouth bass at J.B. Thomas Reservoir.

Stetson Davis of Tuttle, Oklahoma, broke the record by more than five pounds and joined a small number of anglers of any age to have caught bass topping 13 pounds this year in Texas.

The massive fish was donated alive to the state-run Toyota ShareLunker Program, which accepts only “Legacy Class” bass weighing at least 13 pounds for its long-running hatchery spawning effort designed to enhance fisheries statewide.

“We are excited to recognize Stetson’s accomplishments through the Toyota ShareLunker Program and Angler Recognition Program,” Natalie Goldstrohm, program coordinator, stated Friday in a news release. “Getting young people hooked on fishing through these programs is important to creating a lifelong love of the sport.”

Stetson was in Texas with his father, Brodey Davis, with the goal of catching his first double-digit largemouth bass.

The kid had a good teacher; Brodey caught the seventh-largest “Legacy Class” bass in Texas history (17.06 pounds) in 2022 at O.H. Ivie Reservoir.

Stetson recalled his Wednesday outing to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department:

“We didn’t have much luck at the start but around 9:20 a.m. we spotted her. I made multiple casts her way, but she wouldn’t bite, and it was a little frustrating. I finally placed the bait close enough to where she saw and then she bit.

“I set the hook and instantly my dad went to go and grab the net. When the fish came to the surface, we knew it was a double-digit. It was a fairly quick fight, and we were able to secure it in the net and get it into the boat.”

Stetson is the 11th angler this year to donate a Legacy Class bass to the ShareLunker Program. Since 1986, Texas anglers have donated 611 Legacy Class fish to the program.