Tag: snake encounters

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

Can you spot the rattlesnake ‘on patrol’ in unlikely spot?

A rattlesnake expert in Arizona on Sunday shared an image showing a large western diamondback rattlesnake stretched out in a tree. Can you spot the reptile?

A rattlesnake expert in Arizona on Sunday shared an image showing a large western diamondback rattlesnake stretched out in a tree.

It might require some adjustment, but viewers should be able to easily spot the reptile among the branches.

Perhaps a better question, which Rattlesnake Solutions owner Bryan D. Hughes addressed in his tweet, is what inspired the rattlesnake to climb a tree?

Hughes explained: “In this area, multiple males come in to challenge for the prime location at the den. This big one is on patrol, searching for these rivals and making sure everyone is where they should be.”

To be sure, the vast majority of rattlesnake sightings occur on the ground, where the reptiles blend into their surroundings while resting or waiting to ambush prey.

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But rattlesnakes occasionally climb trees.

Last year, a hunter in Georgia was horrified to discover a timber rattlesnake tucked into the seat of his deer stand, 20 feet up a tree.

Jason Clark, of Southeastern Reptile Rescue told Georgia Outdoor News that the snake was likely on the scent of a squirrel or other prey.

In 2020, a New Mexico resident shared video showing a nearly 6-foot rattlesnake near the top of a mesquite tree. (Watch video below.)

“The snake was up high, soaking up the early morning sun, but his rattler was going at high speed,” Jerome Perez told McClatchy News. A small sparrow was flapping frantically in front of the snake, trying to keep it from a nest likely hidden in the tree.”

In August 2020, the Bureau of Land Management – Arizona shared an image of a diamondback rattlesnake “basking” on a branch in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area.

The agency wrote: “Did you know? Rattlesnakes are rarely observed in trees, except when basking, hunting prey such as birds and rodents, or to escape from extreme heat or a high water level.”

The image shared Sunday by Hughes was captured last year in Yavapai County, Arizona.