Rattlesnakes? (Kingman, Safford, Cottonwood: scorpions, fences, moving)

[kdog]

Some rattlers will rattle and retreat. Other ones will hold their ground and stare you down, like this one.

[adventuregurl]

Originally Posted by MangledMind

Easier said than done when their in the garage or in the house

And my worries concern the kids and our animals ...

2 already this season. First one was on a trail by our water tanks, and the second one was in one of the houses ...

You have to assume that snakes are always on the trails, just like the trees and shrubs, they are native to the area, and then act accordingly. Dogs should be snake trained if they're going out on the trails off leash, and kids should be old enough to understand what they're dealing with as it is a reality of the desert.

I am an avid hiker, sometimes clocking up to 15 hours in a week, and I have only had 2 rattlesnake encounters that were a little too close for comfort in quite a number of years. I now use a hiking stick and bang the rocks as I am going along which helps to disperse the snakes (rattlesnakes and others).

[and the]

I am an avid hiker, sometimes clocking up to 15 hours in a week, and I have only had 2 rattlesnake encounters that were a little too close for comfort in quite a number of years.

I'm going to infer from that, that if you shot every snake you see that's too close, you wouldn't even come close to harming the snake population! That way you can feel like you're in control on the trail AND be ecologically friendly!

[adventuregurl]

Originally Posted by and the

I'm going to infer from that, that if you shot every snake you see that's too close, you wouldn't even come close to harming the snake population! That way you can feel like you're in control on the trail AND be ecologically friendly!

I would never hurt a snake, I figure if I'm out in nature then I should expect to see nature. If I want a sterile environment I'll walk on the sidewalk. Actually in Sedona even that doesn't mean that you won't encounter a snake but it will be easier to see .

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by kdog

Some rattlers will rattle and retreat. Other ones will hold their ground and stare you down, like this one.

Oy, Kdog!

Wish I'd had some warning before C-D popped that up on my screen as First Unread

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

I have lived in AZ for most of my life, and I have only seen a few live ones around Phoenix, mostly dead ones though.

I see one or two almost every day

[adventuregurl]

...because today I was a little rushed for time and decided to walk on the side walk instead of the trails, and lo and behold, there was a snake sprawled right across it ! It wouldn't move for me, so I had to get on the road to pass.

It was not a rattler, it was about 18 inches long and a taupe color with a red tail and an orange ring just behind his head. I'm sure one of the 'snake people' here will tall me what kind it was.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by adventuregurl

...because today I was a little rushed for time and decided to walk on the side walk instead of the trails, and lo and behold, there was a snake sprawled right across it ! It wouldn't move for me, so I had to get on the road to pass.

It was not a rattler, it was about 18 inches long and a taupe color with a red tail and an orange ring just behind his head. I'm sure one of the 'snake people' here will tall me what kind it was.

It's a ring neck snake. Don't know the official name. I've seen them up north but not in the low desert. Interesting.

[adventuregurl]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

It's a ring neck snake. Don't know the official name. I've seen them up north but not in the low desert. Interesting.

I live in Sedona so maybe that explains it.

[mohawkx]

When I lived in Clarkdale I would move at least 3 to 7 rattlesnakes a year off my property and back to the fields. They were all headed for the Verde River green belt around July and August. I bought a new place in Cottonwood and it came with a kingsnake about 2 feet long. He lives under the cement driveway and comes out now and then. haven't seen a rattler in over a year I've lived here. Most the lizards are gone too. Lizards in Arizona are usually like rats in a cornfield. Lots of them. Not on my property though. He's the common kingsnake, black with yellow bands.