An organization that makes a speciality of catching and relocating snakes in Phoenix and Tucson metro areas on Monday tweeted an inventory of the highest 5 varieties of snakes encountered by residents.
Bryan Hughes of Rattlesnake Solutions said that the record relies on “15,000-plus snake relocation calls and almost as many identification requests.”
It would possibly come as a reduction that solely one of many snakes is venomous. The record, with species particulars gleaned from the Rattlesnake Solutions web site:
–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.”
According 15,000+ snake relocation calls and almost as many identification requests, listed here are the highest 5 snakes encountered by the everyday Phoenix-area resident. pic.twitter.com/1cNB85LZQX
— Bryan D. Hughes (@rattlesnakeguy) March 18, 2024
–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 varieties of snakes, together with 19 totally different rattlesnake species. Rattlesnake Solutions presents free identification for residents who can present a picture of the snake they’ve encountered.
–Western diamondback rattlesnake picture courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Story initially appeared on For The Win
