Rattlesnakes! Safety and Prevention Tips
Many people move to Arizona for our near-constant sunshine and mild winters. These also make for perfect conditions for reptiles, which, to the dismay of many homeowners, are a part of daily life in the area. Where our neighborhoods meet the desert, an encounter with a snake every so often is just part of life.
Cave Creek is home to 5 unique rattlesnake species, all of which are venomous. Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes are the most commonly encountered at homes and yards, with the Mojave Rattlesnake and Speckled Rattlesnakes a distant second and third, respectively.
The others, the Tiger Rattlesnake and Blacktailed Rattlesnake, are common and numerous but rarely seen away from their native habitat and seldom found at homes in the area. You may see one on a hike up Black Mountain, but are unlikely to find one in the backyard.
Does this make living here unsafe? Not at all! In fact, rattlesnake bites in the area are rare. Many rattlesnake bites are the result of intentional interaction. That is, they are optional; a rational approach to living with native wildlife can ensure safety, even in communities where these interactions are common.
Rattlesnakes are on the menu for many desert predators. They’re nervous, shy, and, like most animals, will try to prevent their death when it is threatened. Rattlesnakes do not chase, jump at, or come after perceived predators, regardless of the numerous fictional tales we read about. The fact is, rattlesnake encounters are almost always harmless if in nature. And at home, much can be done to deal with the situation safely and with respect of the native wildlife.
The single best tip to stay safe around snakes: leave them alone, and prevent entry to your yard.
What is a homeowner to do when a venomous visitor suddenly drops by one morning, coiled on the porch, and goes nowhere? The first thing to consider is that nobody is in danger. The snake has been seen, and the only way anyone will be within range of a bite is if they put themselves there. Statistically, this is what many shovel-wielding husbands will do, becoming one of the most extensive bite statistics. A bite to the hand of a home hero can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, cause incredible pain, and result in disfigurement and occasional death. Don’t risk it–working with rattlesnakes is not a D.I.Y. situation.
Next, why is the snake there? Isn’t there some way to keep them from being there in the first place? Fortunately, there is.
When are rattlesnakes active?
Rattlesnakes in the Cave Creek area are most commonly encountered in the Spring and Fall. This is not just because snakes are highly active at the time, but because we are too. Based on records from scientific surveys in the area and calls for relocation, the yearly schedule for rattlesnake activity looks about like this:
Late January – February: Rattlesnakes are hibernating, but beginning to make appearances on the surface in some conditions. You’ll see the first reports of rattlesnakes on trails in certain areas by hikers.
March – early May: Rattlesnakes are very active! Encounters are mid-morning, with a spike between about 3pm and 6pm in the evenings. They are needing to eat, drink, and mate before temperatures get too hot.
Late May – July: Rattlesnakes are largely hidden away and become nocturnal. In this period, they aestivate, which is like hibernation but to avoid the heat (just like we do when it’s 115˚F outside!). They may still be seen though in the early morning, before the sun comes in.
Late July – September: Rattlesnakes are again very active with the onset of the monsoon. Starting about two weeks after the first rain, the first baby rattlesnakes are out and about. The rest need to shed their skins, eat, drink, and do all their rattlesnake stuff while they can.
October – November: This is the second busiest time for rattlesnake encounters, second only to the spring. They have a lot to do: they must eat all they can, and begin moving towards their winter hibernation spots. During this time, baby rattlesnakes are all over, and a second mating season kicks off. By about the second week of November, most rattlesnakes are where they are going to be for the winter.
December – January: Rattlesnakes are hibernating, and few if any will be encountered. However, during certain events, like a sudden rain after a long dry spell, they may come to the surface for a short time.
What to do if you see a rattlesnake on the trail or out in nature:
- Nothing! That’s where rattlesnakes live, and seeing wildlife is one of the many reasons many people visit wild spaces. Give it space, and take a photo or two to tell the story. Rattlesnakes will not chase after a person or pet.
What to do if you see a rattlesnake at your house:
Consider if anything needs to be done at all. If you live where rattlesnakes may come in contact with your home, then assume that you’re only seeing a small number of the actual visitors you have. In many instances, the chance to encounter a long-term resident snake is really meaningless, though it may not feel like it. If it’s in a place where people and pets can be kept away from it, in most instances, they will head out once it’s dark, and rarely be seen again.
- If you feel comfortable doing so, you may scare the snake away using a garden hose (make sure the water isn’t hot from the sun). This is not recommended during the winter months or in June/July, however, as rattlesnakes are more likely tied to specific locations. If there is an opportunity to flee, a snake that has been disturbed or scared (if it’s rattling, it’s both!), will vacate the area as soon as possible.
- If you prefer to have someone move the snake to a more distant location, there are professional services available that can do so 24 hours a day in Cave Creek. If you do call a service, be sure to ask them about why the snake was there and what can be done about it. In many situations, there are hidden attractants that can be changed to reduce the likelihood of future encounters.
- Calling Fire Departments for rattlesnake matters is not recommended for several reasons – moving the snake to the correct location is important and these relocations often result in injured snakes and repeated encounters.
- If you find a rattlesnake during the winter or the peak of summer, you’ll want to consider why it’s there. Rattlesnakes during these times require certain circumstances to survive, often taking the form of a garage, shed, tack room, etc.
How to keep rattlesnakes out of your yard:
- The desert is a hard place to live; don’t make your yard an oasis. Rattlesnakes need food, water, and shelter. Avoid providing those, and the yard is no lot interesting to a rattlesnake. Fix leaky hoses, keep the yard clean, and ensure all the bushes are trimmed and free of dead plant material underneath. Rattlesnakes can be considered a symptom, rather than the problem, in most yards.
- If you have a view fence or wall surrounding the property, complete the barricade. This can be done professionally by rattlesnake fence providers.
- Forget the store-bought snake repellents and mothballs; they simply do not work. Many pest control companies will swear they do, but all research points to repellants being a smelly waste of money.
If a person is bitten by a rattlesnake:
- Call 911 immediately and do everything they say. Don’t drive yourself to the hospital unless you are directed to do so.
- If you can’t call 911, calmly move toward an area where you can do so. If anyone else is available to run ahead to call, they should.
- If you’re active at Spur Cross and are no stranger to a useless cellphone, consider getting a satellite communication device, like a Garmin inReach or Spot. These are relatively inexpensive and can save your life. Apple iPhones 14 and above also now have a satellite texting feature.
- DO NOT do any old cowboy remedies: no cutting and sucking, tourniquet, ice, electric shocks, honey, essential oils, Benadryl, or other various Facebook voodoo. The ONLY thing that will counteract venom is antivenom, and the faster it’s getting into your body, the better off you’ll be.
- Remember this and let it be a comforting thought: death by rattlesnakes in the United States is incredibly rare and by far the least likely outcome. It is very treatable, and modern antivenom and methods are the best they’ve ever been. It may be expensive, and it’s not going to be fun … but you’re going to live.
Keep your dogs safe from rattlesnakes:
- Dogs can be trained to avoid rattlesnakes by a number of businesses around the valley, including a few right here in Cave Creek. Rattlesnake avoidance training can be very effective.
- Keep dogs on a leash in desert areas. The overwhelming majority of rattlesnake bites to dogs are on the face and chest when the dog goes into investigate the mysterious animal. Off-leash can be fun, but you may be risking your dog’s life.
- Find a 24 hour emergency vet and make sure that they treat bites with antivenom. Keep this information available. The last thing you want to be doing at 2am in an emergency is searching for open doors.
- Dogs are most often bitten either in the morning or evening when let out to use the bathroom. Take a walk around the yard to check before letting them out in the mornings and evenings during the Spring and Fall.
- Do not give Benadryl or any remedies recommended on social media. Call your vet!
If you have a snake that you’d like to have removed, call 480-237-9975 or visit rattlesnakesolutions.com. For Rattlesnake Fence information, call 480-565-7824.
Snakes that are most commonly found in Phoenix
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
VENOMOUS – Grey to tan in color, between 1’ and 4’ long, with an extreme maximum size of around 5.. Easily identified by the distinct white and black banded tail, and rattle. Defensive in nature but easily avoided if encountered.
Mojave Rattlesnake
VENOMOUS – The mojave, or “mojave green” as people like to say, is often confused for the similar-looking western diamondback. The mojave is very commonly seen in flat, sandy desertscrub areas. This snake has a reputation of being an overly dangerous snake, as it is quick to become defensive (though not “aggressive”) and has a powerful venom. These exist in very low numbers in Cave Creek near the border with Scottsdale, and in small patches of uninhabited mesa northwest of town. Most reported sightings end up being Blacktailed Rattlesnakes – Mojave Rattlesnakes do not live on Black Mountain.
Tiger Rattlesnake
VENOMOUS – Usually small, grey or tan, with bands running down the body. It is small, between 1’ and 3’ in length. These are very secretive snakes, and most reports of them end up being misidentified Speckled Rattlesnakes. They can be found anywhere there are mountains in and around the town, but rarely go far from their home rocks and drainages.
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
VENOMOUS – Speckled Rattlesnakes live in rocky areas near mountains or hillsides. The Speckled Rattlesnakes is highly variable in color, from a white/grey in the South Mountain and White Tanks areas, brown in North Phoenix, and orange and red going North into Cave Creek and the Anthem areas. Here in Cave Creek, they are all an orange or reddish color, with a pattern that fades as they age. They are the most commonly encountered rattlesnake for hikers at Black Mountain.
Blacktailed Rattlesnake
VENOMOUS – The Blacktailed Rattlesnake lives in mountainous areas and surrounding foothills, and are more rarely found in flat desert areas in between. The Blacktailed Rattlesnake found near Cave Creek is mostly brown, tinted with yellow, orange, or green. They are notably calm for a rattlesnake in most cases, but will rattle and defend themselves when they are scared. They are seen by hikers in all of the area mountain parks, and sometimes near the golf courses.
Sonoran Coralsnake
VENOMOUS – These are usually very small, about as big around as a pencil and just a bit longer. They are venomous as all coralsnakes are, but bites from our local species are very rare. They are not closely related to coralsnakes in the Eastern US, and behave very differently. They should not be picked up, but seeing one should not be considered a dangerous event. If anything, seeing a coralsnake on the property may mean that you have a termite problem! They are eaters of Western Threadsnakes, which specialize in eating termite larvae … so if you have an old barn somewhere on the property, that’s where coralsnakes would be. Just ignore them and you’ll never see it again.
Sonoran Gophersnake
BENEFICIAL – Also commonly misidentified in the area as a “bullsnake”. Tan, yellow, or orange in color, with dark brown blotches, between 1.5’ and 5’in length. Defensive if attacked, but non-venomous and will not bite unless attacked. A gophersnake is great free pest control. These are found everywhere in the town.
Desert Nightsnake
BENEFICIAL – Grey or dark brown with double rows of spots on the back, between 8” and 14” in length. Often confused with a baby rattlesnake due to elliptical eyes and triangular head. Absolutely harmless, this snake feeds on spiders and scorpions in the yard.
Longnosed Snake
BENEFICIAL – Often confused with the kingsnake, this snake is between 8” and 3’ long. It eats lizards and their eggs. They are absolutely harmless, and can reduce rattlesnake-attracting prey in a yard.
Kingsnake
BENEFICIAL – Black and white banding from head to tail, and between 1’ and 4’ in length. Kingsnakes consider rattlesnakes a primary food source, and are great to have on a property. They may bite if picked up, but are otherwise completely harmless.
Coachwhip
BENEFICIAL – Fast, slender, and between 1’ and 5’ in length. May be black, olive, or red in color. This snake eats rattlesnakes and other prey items and should be kept as-is if seen. They will bite if picked up, but move away quickly if seen and are difficult to capture.
… and several others! Cave Creek is home to home to a diverse population of wildlife, and it’s not uncommon for a lifelong resident to see something they’ve never seen before, right in their own backyards.
Snake Identification: text a photo to 480-694-3020 or email id@rattlesnakesolutions.com
Bryan Hughes
Owner, Rattlesnake Solutions LLC
Snake Removal Hotline: 480-237-9975
Rattlesnake Fencing: 480-565-7824