Winter in the Sonoran Desert of Southern Arizona is considered a time when reptiles, tortoises, and some mammals find, holes, dens, caves, nests, and protected places to hibernate. This belief, that winter hibernation of dangerous species, such as rattlers, makes the desert safe, results in homeowners, snowbirds, who come to the desert to escape the cold of the north, and others, to possibly let down their guard. While, for the most part, few rattlers are seen on hiking trails, out in the open, crossing paths, streets, or sunning themselves in the late afternoon on patios, rocks, and the asphalt, homeowners, and business owners, in particular, should remain vigilant.
Since the desert temperatures can fluctuate from below freezing at night to over 75 degrees on a warm winter’s day, it is not uncommon to see some mammals moving around, bees eating from your hummingbird feeder, and droppings from night time visits by mice,and rats. One has to expect that, if it is warm enough for the natural prey of a rattlesnake to have been warmed enough to emerge for short periods of time, there is a likelihood that, from time to time, a rattlesnake could be spotted as well. The big question is always; where?
Rattlesnakes have interesting habits in the desert and it is important to understand some of their behaviors as the weather turns cold and the mild south western winter progresses. Rattlesnakes are cold blooded and their metabolism slows down as the temperature cools. Therefore, they need to take cover for both survival from predators as well as finding a place where, unless the temperature rises, they do not have to consume much energy.
Rattlesnakes can be found underground, in caves, way back under rocks, in pack rat dens-even sharing a den over winter with a pack rat, and, in your garage,shed, or wood pile! Garages seem to be a favorite. Often the garage doors are left open for extended periods of time, making it easy for a rattler, following a wall in the late fall, to turn a corner and find a protected area with lots of hiding places for a winter sleep. When a garage is closed, the ratter is protected from direct cold and, if the garage, or even the garage door is insulated, the temperature remains fairly constant-creating an environment very similar in temperature range to a cave, or deep hole.
1st Response Wildlife has had several calls for winter rattlers in garages this winter. Homes where a homeowner has taken the opportunity to work in a garage that is a comfortable 65-70 degrees, seem to be the most common. Homeowners or business owners find It is much easier to re-organize, clean, and put things away in that temperature range than in the heat of the summer when it can be over 100 degrees outside and 105-115 in that same garage/shed/storage area.
Below are a couple of pictures of a yearling winter rattler that was eventually spotted by a homeowner after a couple of hours moving things around in her garage. She related that she must have had her hand within inches of this little fellow several times before spotting it and calling 1st Response Wildlife. Fortunately, the rattler, which had decided her garage was a perfect place to hibernate-close to birdseed, tools, and any mice that might have come along, was sluggish and really did not strike.
Once disturbed, although relatively slow, the yearling rattler began to move along the garage wall.
Winter daytime temperatures in the Sonoran Desert sometimes soar from 50 degrees, to over 80 degrees. While this is well below a summer time desert temperature of 95 degrees and over, if a rattler happens to be in a spot that is warmed by the sun deep enough into the ground, it may come out and search for and ambush a pack rat, kangaroo rat, round tailed ground squirrel, or mouse which also may have been curious enough to emerge from their topor. (Torpor-temporary period of inactivity for some mammals)
Below is a mature diamondback winter rattler that has emerged next to a brick wall the base of which is set more than 2’ in the ground. As the sun warmed the wall, heat extended well underground and, on a 75-80 degree day, a winter rattler has emerged. (You will note that the rattler, although out in the open, is well camouflaged against the wall. the gravel in front of the wall, and other small rocks.)
1st Response Wildlife, when called to collect and relocate winter rattlers, prefers to remove them from a business or homeowner location (garage, shed, wood pile, along a wall, etc.) and hold them until spring, when a release in a safe location will better ensure survival. (With spring time temperatures consistently above 80-90 degrees, one can be sure normal rattlesnake prey will also be out, on the move, and plentiful.) Winter rattlers are kept in a safe enclosure in a controlled environment and released, in the spring, unharmed, back into the wild.
Based on the number of winter rattlers seen and the calls 1st Response Wildlife receives in the months from December-April, it is strongly suggested that businesses, HOA management, and homeowners keep their employees and family members educated about the potential of finding rattlers outside in the winter months as well as in garages, storage sheds, in wood piles, behind pots, or other places around their business or home. While they may be sluggish and slow moving, don’t assume rattlers are any less dangerous.
For any rattlers, nuisance animals burrowing around your foundations, or other trapping needs, please give 1st Response a call.
Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife
Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517
Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!
