Tag: Rattlesnake Solutions

Can you spot the rattlesnake hiding in Arizona backyard?

A Phoenix company that relocates rattlesnakes issued the photo challenge after being summoned to a residence to capture the reptile.

–A version of this post was published by FTW Outdoors in 2021.

A Phoenix-based company that relocates rattlesnakes reported by concerned residents has quizzed Facebook followers by posting the accompanying image and asking:

“Western Diamondback Rattlesnake spotted in a backyard by Dave recently. See it?” (Answer at the bottom of this story.)

Can you spot the rattlesnake? Photo: Rattlesnake Solutions

While many will spot the rattlesnake after a brief inspection, the image reveals how adept rattlesnakes are at blending into their surroundings.

The image was posted to Facebook by Rattlesnake Solutions, which operates in Phoenix and Tucson. The company is licensed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and maintains that snakes are not harmed during capture or relocation.

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Many in the comments section correctly described the location of the rattlesnake in the image. But some were merely intrigued by the prospect of discovering a rattlesnake in one’s yard.

Reads one comment: “Not your average backyard thankfully! Note to self – do not buy a house with a backyard with rocks to hide under in Arizona, in fact buy a condo on the 12th floor!”

For those who would like conformation that their guesses are correct, the snake is circled in the image posted below.

Western diamondback rattlesnake circled in red. Photo: Rattlesnake Solutions

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Can you spot the rattlesnake testing its new hiding place?

The western diamondback rattlesnake had blended almost perfectly into its surroundings near a Tucson home.

–In May we featured an image from Arizona as part of a quiz challenging readers to spot a camouflaged rattlesnake. Below is a repost for those interested in testing their spotting skills.

An Arizona company that relocates rattlesnakes reported by concerned residents has been busy dealing with snakes flushed by rain from more remote hiding spots.

Rattlesnake Solutions shared the accompanying image showing one such reptile: a western diamondback rattlesnake hiding in a new and “less ideal” spot near a Tucson home.

Can you spot the rattlesnake in the accompanying image? (Answer at the bottom of this post.)

Rattlesnake in hiding. Photo courtesy of Rattlesnake Solutions

It’s a difficult quiz for many because only a small part of the snake is visible. Dozens of followers chimed in on the Rattlesnake Solutions Facebook post.

A sampling:

– “Nope. I’d be dead.”

– “Wow! Best camouflage ever.”

– Took me about 5 minutes, that’s crazy camo.”

– “That was tough. Excellent camouflage.”

– “I finally found it.”

Rattlesnake Solutions waited hours before sharing the answer in a separate post. Click here to view that image, showing the snake circled in red.

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Phoenix homeowner ‘shocked’ when welcome mat starts rattling

In Arizona, where there are lots of rattlesnakes, welcome mats can be deceiving. Footage shows the snake being captured.

In Arizona, apparently, welcome mats can be deceiving.

From the Phoenix-based Rattlesnake Solutions, which relocates problem snakes back into wild areas, via Instagram:

“A homeowner got a shock when the welcome mat started rattling at her! Bryce went out to discover a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake hiding under it. You can see the lump here.”

Understandable comment: “New nightmare unlocked.”

The lump is visible in the image atop this post. Below is video footage showing Bryce carefully lifting the mat with plastic tongs and capturing the venomous snake for relocation.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAHjookM06e/

 

A rattlesnake that climbs trees; why that shouldn’t worry you

“No, this does not mean that they’ll now drop from branches into the yard or on your head,” one rattlesnake expert assured.

An Arizona company that relocates rattlesnakes captured near homes and businesses has shared an image showing a rattlesnake scaling a tree.

“Yes, rattlesnakes can and do climb trees when it suits them,” Rattlesnake Solutions stated Wednesday via Instagram.

Such a revelation might be alarming to folks who had previously thought they only had to watch their step.

But Rattlesnake Solutions attempted to alleviate concerns with the following bullet points:

–“No, this does not mean they can climb all surfaces, including smooth surfaces.”

–“No, this does not mean that they’ll now drop from branches into the yard or on your head.”

–“Yes, your uncle who tells the story about the ‘nest of rattlers that jumped in his boat’ is full of s**t.”

–“No, you do not now need to fear trees knowing this.”

The company explained that the northern blacktailed rattlesnake in the image scaled the tree after being released following its capture near a construction site in Cochise County.

“Upon release to carefully selected habitat, it fled … straight up,” Rattlesnake Solutions continued. “This species, in particular, may spend more time high in trees than is currently realized.”

–Image courtesy of Bryan D. Hughes / Rattlesnake Solutions

Rattlesnake eats too much, can’t squeeze back into its den

An Arizona rattlesnake wrangler was called to a horse ranch to relocate a gluttonous rattlesnake. It was suspected of being in a food coma.

An Arizona rattlesnake wrangler was called to a horse ranch to relocate a gluttonous rattlesnake that ate so much it couldn’t squeeze back into its den.

“I was laughing,” Marissa Maki of Rattlesnake Solutions told McClatchy News, describing the moment she saw the overstuffed rattler. “It was too full to do anything. It barely moved. The snake didn’t even know what was going on. I think it was in a food coma.”

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The rattlesnake, a western diamondback, was suspected of eating a chubby kangaroo rat or ground squirrel on the Scottsdale ranch.

It was discovered when riders from the ranch took a break in the shade and, as McClatchy News put it, “saw the snake’s butt hanging out, so to speak.”

“Look at how fat he is,” Maki said when picking up the venomous snake with tongs.

Commenters took a mostly mocking tone on the Rattlesnake Solutions Facebook page. A sampling of comments:

“I can’t tell if he ate a kangaroo rat, or a kangaroo!”

“I know how the rattlesnake felt. For me, it is no longer fitting into my jeans! Sigh!”

“What a fatty.”

“Looks like that one was temporarily rendered safe by its gluttony.”

“What a piggy!”

“I feel her pain!”

“Was definitely eating well by the looks of her.”

“Fatso!!”

So, what happened to the overindulging rattlesnake?

“It was relocated safely, without losing its meal,” Rattlesnake Solutions wrote.

Photos courtesy of Rattlesnake Solutions.