They are also very fast, and are very difficult to capture for this reason. Most encounters with a Coachwhip are just a quick glance as it quickly slides away from the area. They can be a variety of colors; brown and tan is most common, though they also may be red, pink, orange, or black. They have large, round eyes that angle forward through indentations in the face, and can appear to be looking forward.
They are reasonably intelligent, agile snakes, that can climb trees, climb walls, fences, and are found in about any place imaginable. Coachwhips can help reduce rattlesnakes in an area because they are rattlesnake-eaters.
They also consume about any type of rodent, lizard, or bird that will fit in their mouth, also reducing rattlesnake encounters by simply being competition. Coachwhips will bite if picked up, but are not venomous. Patch-Nosed Snakes are most often encountered on dirt roads in the morning or late afternoon by hikers as they bask in the sun, then quickly dart off the road.
They're slender, medium-sized snakes that get up to around 3' long. Their color has often been described as "straw", or tan, cream, or a peach tint, with a series of black or brown stripes that run from just behind the eye to the tail.
The stripes have a slight saw-tooth look to them, unlike the straight stripes of the Eastern Patch-Nosed Snake. On the end of the nose is an enlarged scale that looks like a small, bent guitar pick, which the snake uses to hunt lizards hiding in shallow sand. They're quick, and most people only get a glimpse of them before they disappear, which often leads to misidentificaiton as a Coachwhip or Whipsnake.
They're harmless, but might give a minor bite some scratches of picked up. This small, harmless snake is one of the most rarely-seen species that lives along the highly-urbanized areas of Phoenix and Tucson. They're small, usually only around a foot long. They are a cream or tan color with, unlike the similar Spotted Leaf-Nosed Snake, a series of dark brown, incomplete bands along the body that are relatively few.
The face has an enlarged scaled shaped like an upside-down heart that they use to push through sandy soil. They are heavy-bodied for their size, which can help differentiate them from the more commonly-seen Longnosed Snakes and variety of other small, ground-dwelling species. An eater of primarily lizard eggs, this snake is completely harmless.
If stressed, it might perform a series of dramatic, fake hisses and strikes with its mouth closed, but does not actually bite. This small, harmless snake is not often seen. They are a cream, pink, or tan color with irregularly-shaped blotches along the back, from head to tail, in a much higher frequency than the few saddles appearing on the Saddled Leaf-Nosed Snake.
They are heavy-bodied for their size, which can help differentiate them from the more commonly-seen variety of other small, ground-dwelling snakes.
These fast snakes are commonly seen people enjoying the outdoors, but very rarely seen in and around homes and backyards.
They're long up to 5' — 6' long as adults and slender and usually disappear quickly into bushes when disturbed. The color is often a slate-grey, but sometimes appears as a colorful gradient of olive green, blue, to reddish brown, with a white belly and a stripe on each side from just behind the head down the body. Their head has a more angular appearance than the similar-looking Coachwhip, with a white jaw and stripe extending through the base of the eye.
They are day-active, agile predators that often eat birds, lizards, and rodents. They're harmless and non-venomous, though if someone were to pick one up it is likely to bite. These relatively common snakes are often found near irrigation and agricultural areas around Phoenix and Tucson, and along grassy waterways throughout much of the southeastern part of the state.
They can be large, up to around 3 feet long, but most are smaller. Their color is a brown or grey base color with numerous black or darker-brown blotches that appear in a checkerboard pattern and a white belly.
There is a single white or cream-colored stripe along the back, and a thin stripe along each side that runs the length of the body. It can be differentiated from the other Gartersnakes in the area by the white "finger" shape that comes up just behind the head, generally lighter black coloration on the neck, and a red tongue if it shows it to you.
Their range may be exapanding in the state due to irrigation and agricultural activity. They will eat anything they can catch, and often spend the day searching for frogs and toads and rodents along waterways. These pretty Gartersnakes can be seen hunting tadpoles and small fish along many waterways and mountain streams throughout central and southeastern Arizona. They're capable of getting above 3 feet long, but most are half that size.
Unlike the other species of Gartersnakes in the state, they can be quite colorful. As the name implies, two large, black blotches are right behind the lighter-colored head. The grey or brown body usually has a number of black or brown blotches that often fade away mid-body, and a bright yellow or cream-colored stripe runs along the back from head to tail.
A lighter-colored stripe runs along each side, from jaw to tail. On occasion, brilliant teal or blue skin can be seen between the scales, often when the snake has just eaten and engorged. These snakes are those most often seen by fishermen and campers along the rim areas along waterways, lakes, and ponds. Compared to the Checkered and Black-necked Gartersnakes, these snakes are relatively drab in appearance. Most have the typical Gartersnake back-stripe and blotches, though usually much more subdued and in some, almost missing entirely.
They eat fish, tadpoles and frogs, and a variety of invertebrates, and are easily seen as they hunt in grass at the waters' edge. They are harmless, but may bite if picked up and cause a few scratches. These tiny, harmless snakes are most easily identified by their black head, as the name implies. They're often mistaken for young Groundsnakes, which also often appear with a black head, but can be differentiated by the presence of a red or pink stripe on the belly.
Adults in Arizona rarely get more than about 10" long. They never bite, and can be ignored if seen in the yard. Repeat sightings of this species could be an indication that the home has termites, however! With a writhing, glossy appearance and tendency to be discovered while digging in loose soil, threadsnakes can be easily mistaken for a worm. A close look at the head, however reveals two dark spots — the vestigial remnants of eyes. They may be pink or brown, and give off a foul smell when handled.
They are completely harmless, and feed on termite larvae. This tiny, worm-like snake is often found inside homes and near gardens. Alternatively named the "flower pot snake", for good reason — it is transported around the world from its original Indonesian home in soil and the roots of garden plants.
They are tiny like a stir straw , and usually shiny or "wet" in appearance, though they are not slimy, and the color of dark coffee. Similar to our native threadsnakes, they are completely harmless and can be ignored, or put outside if found indoors.
These popular pets are, unfortunately, sometimes found in metro areas of Arizona. They are not venomous, but can give a painful bite if they are stressed. If you find one, please contact a reptile rescue organization or notify neighbors of the sighting in the event it's just an escaped pet.
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake Crotalus pyrrhus Dangerously Venomous Commonly encountered Avoid or relocate if found at a home Snake fencing very effective. Northern Blacktailed Rattlesnake Crotalus molossus molossus Dangerously Venomous Commonly encountered Avoid or relocate if found at a home Snake fencing very effective.
Tiger Rattlesnake Crotalus tigris Dangerously Venomous Rarely encountered Avoid or relocate if found at a home Snake fencing very effective. Sidewinder Crotalus cerastes ssp. Dangerously Venomous Rarely encountered Avoid or relocate if found at a home Snake fencing very effective. Mojave Rattlesnake Crotalus scutulatus Dangerously Venomous Commonly encountered Avoid or relocate if found at a home Snake fencing very effective. Arizona Black Rattlesnake Crotalus cerberus Dangerously Venomous Commonly encountered Avoid or relocate if found at a home Snake fencing very effective.
Arizona Ridgenosed Rattlesnake Crotalus willardi willardi Dangerously Venomous Rarely encountered Protected - do not interact Snake fencing not necessary. Desert Massasauga Sistrurus tergeminus edwardsii Dangerously Venomous Rarely encountered Protected - do not interact Snake fencing not necessary.
Grand Canyon Rattlesnake Crotalus oreganus abyssus Dangerously Venomous Rarely encountered Avoid or relocate if found at a home Snake fencing very effective. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Crotalus oreganus concolor Dangerously Venomous Very rarely encountered Avoid or relocate if found at a home Snake fencing very effective. Prairie Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis Dangerously Venomous Very commonly encountered Avoid or relocate if found at a home Snake fencing very effective.
Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum Dangerously Venomous Rarely encountered Avoid or relocate if found at a home Snake fencing very effective. Sonoran Gophersnake Pituophis catenifer affinis Harmless Very commonly encountered No action necessary Snake fencing somewhat effective.
California Kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae Harmless Commonly encountered No action necessary Snake fencing somewhat effective. Desert Kingsnake Lampropeltis splendida Harmless Commonly encountered No action necessary Snake fencing somewhat effective.
Sonoran Whipsnake Masticophis bilineatus Harmless Commonly encountered No action necessary Snake fencing not effective. View Compact Extended Is it dangerous? Significantly Venomous Harmless.
How can we help you? Though it lives in entirety of the desert surrounding the Phoenix area, it mostly stays underground. They are small, maxing out at under 2', with most being much smaller than that.
The "red touch yellow" rhyme people use to tell the difference between coralsnakes and non-venomous impostors doesn't work in Arizona, where the coralsnake's bands can be more white than yellow. The coralsnake's head is very small and it would be difficult to actually take a bite without first picking the animal up or stepping directly on it while barefoot. Harmless The Sonoran Gophersnake is a large snake that can be found everywhere in the Phoenix area, even in alleyways and backyards in urban areas.
These are very commonly mistaken for rattlesnakes due to a very good impersonation, which includes flattening the head, loud hissing, striking, and even a rattling tail. While they can become quite large and give a painful bite, they are otherwise completely harmless and great to have around. Harmless The nightsnake found in our area is very small, usually under 1.
They are common to see on desert trails at night and in garages, sheds, and under yard debris, as well as in well landscaped apartment complex areas throughout the city. This snake, as the name implies, is completely nocturnal, and won't be seen on the move during the daytime. It does have a mild venom, but it is not dangerous to people, and you'd have a difficult time finding one that will try and bite. Harmless The kingsnake is very easy to identify by the high-contrast white and black bands that run the entire length of the body.
They are common anywhere near open desert areas. Kingsnakes are great to have around your home because one of their primary food sources are other snakes, including rattlesnakes. Even if you're scared of snakes, if you see one of these on the crawl in your yard, consider yourself lucky for the natural rattler protection.
Common Snakes of the Phoenix Area While not all of the snakes that can be found in and around the Phoenix city limits, these are some of the most common. Venomous Snakes Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox Venomous This is the most commonly encountered rattlesnake in the valley, and can be found anywhere where neighborhoods get close to native desert habitat.
Sonoran Sidewinder Crotalus cerastes Venomous Sidewinders are small rattlesnakes that live in sandy desert areas. Speckled Rattlesnake Crotalus mitchelli Venomous Speckled rattlesnakes live in rocky areas near mountains or hillsides. Blacktailed Rattlesnake Crotalus molossus Venomous The Blacktailed Rattlesnake lives in mountainous areas and surrounding foothills.
They are large, and generally less aggressive than many other species of rattlesnake The Blacktailed Rattlesnake near Phoenix is mostly brown, tinted with yellow, orange, or green. If you are not afraid of snakes, the best way to remove a nonpoisonous snake is to sweep it into a bucket or large garbage can with a broom.
The snakes can then be released in a safe place 2 miles or more from human dwellings. Note: Exercise extreme caution when moving in a crawl space, especially if venomous snakes have been seen in the area—a face bite can be very serious.
A face-to-face encounter with even a nonpoisonous coachwhip or bull snake can be an unpleasant experience. Another effective method of capturing snakes inside a home, under porches, in crawl spaces or under mobile homes is to use a glueboard Figure.
Most small snakes can be captured using a single glueboard placed against a wall, away from pipes or other objects a snake could use for leverage to escape. Only use glueboards indoors or under structures where children, pets and other wildlife cannot reach them—the glue is quite messy and hard to remove. When you need to remove the board, use a hook on the end of a long stick to grab the glueboard through one of its holes. Use common cooking oil or vegetable oil to remove animals from the glue.
Once the unwanted guests have been removed, be sure to close any holes or entrances to the home so the snakes do not return. Remember, snakes are an important part of our natural world. The best approach to managing snake problems is to exclude them from living areas and maintain an area that is unattractive to snakes.
In New Mexico, rattlesnakes are the most common poisonous snakes. The primary way to distinguish a rattlesnake from other snakes is the presence of a rattle, a series of horny rings formed of keratin.
The rings scrape against each other in pulses to cause a rattling sound. The rattle begins with a single, soundless button on small snakes and grows with age, a new segment being added every time the snake sheds.
Snakes shed variably according to their rate of growth and may shed several times a year. Thus, the rattle is not a good indicator of age, as some people believe. Some non-poisonous snakes, such as bull snakes, coachwhips and rat snakes, behave like rattlesnakes when confronted.
This behavior can include hissing loudly or vibrating the tail. If the tail is in contact with dry leaves or grass, they may be mistaken for rattlesnakes. Although you must be dangerously close, another way to identify a rattlesnake is the presence of a very conspicuous sensory area known as a pit on each side of the face just below the nostrils.
The pit helps the snake locate warm-bodied animals. Many harmless snakes flatten their heads when threatened and can look like rattlesnakes. New Mexico has seven species of rattlesnakes that vary in size and color. The rock rattlesnake Crotalus lepidus occurs in isolated mountain ranges in southern New Mexico. It may be found in pine-oak forests, but mostly inhabits mountains with rugged, rocky terrain. It is variable in color and can be brown-black, greenish or gray Figure.
The western diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus atrox is found throughout much of New Mexico. It lives in flat plains and rocky canyons, from grassland deserts to pine-oak forests. The western diamondback is one of the largest of all rattlesnake species and the largest found in New Mexico.
The color is most often gray-brown, although color often depends on the matching background color. Many New Mexico snakes have a reddish to pinkish gray color Figure. The western prairie rattlesnake Crotalus viridis is distributed across New Mexico, much of the western U. It lives in a variety of habitats, from grassland desert to pine-oak forest.
This species is generally more active after dark, except at high altitudes. Western prairie rattlesnakes are often greenish gray or pale brown, with a series of light-colored rings in the tail that darken with maturity Figure.
The Mojave rattlesnake Crotalus scutulatus is found in extreme southern New Mexico, but it is more common in southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas and is more widely distributed in the Chihuahuan Desert than in the Mojave Desert. It lives in desert or low grassland habitat, often on flat terrain. The Mojave rattlesnake is often greenish gray or olive green with a white belly Figure.
Its venom is highly potent. The black-tailed rattlesnake Crotalus molossus is distributed in southwestern and central New Mexico. It lives mostly in rocky, mountainous areas and is found occasionally in lower desert habitat. It is often colored greenish or steel gray, but can be sulfur yellow or rust. The tail is dark brown or black Figure. Generally considered mild-mannered, this rattlesnake can nonetheless be quick to rattle and raise its head.
It has been seen several feet off the ground in trees. The massasauga Sistrurus catenatus is distributed across southern, central and eastern New Mexico where it occupies desert grassland, often in very sandy areas. The snake is relatively small and pale brown and generally has pairs of spots on its head Figure.
Although not usually fatal to humans, bites from this species can be extremely painful. The ridgenose rattlesnake Crotalus willardi is listed by the U.
Fish and Wildlife Service as a threatened species in New Mexico. It inhabits only a small part of the southwestern boot heel of the state. It lives in pine-oak woodlands, open grassy hillsides and humid canyon bottoms. Its color is reddish brown, yellowish brown or gray Figure. Ridgenoses are generally active day or night and tend to have a mild temperament. The western coral snake Microroides euryxanthus is found in extreme southwestern Catron County and western Hidalgo and Grant counties.
Although coral snakes rarely bite, their venom is highly poisonous, so they should not be handled. The western coral snake has a black nose and is brightly colored, with alternating broad rings of red and black separated by narrower rings of white or yellow Figure.
These markings encircle the body, although they are less bright on the belly. In New Mexico, other snakes with similar markings are the milk snake, Sonoran mountain king snake and the longnose snake. On the milk snake and Sonoran mountain king snake, the red bands are bordered by black. The western coral snake has red bands bordered by yellow.
An easy way to determine whether a red, yellow and black snake is a coral snake is to remember that on a coral snake, red touches yellow; on nonpoisonous snakes, red touches black. Each year in the Unites States, about 45, people endure a snakebite, about 8, of them by a venomous snake. However, very few people die from a venomous snakebite. The key to preventing problems after a snakebite is rapid first aid, transport and professional medical treatment.
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