Expert Snake Removal & Prevention in Fountain Hills & East Valley, AZ
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Keep Snakes Away with Expert Prevention and Control
Professional Snake Repelling Services in Fountain Hills and the East Valley
In Arizona, keeping snakes away from your property starts with prevention. At Cummings Pest Control, we provide effective snake repelling services for homeowners throughout the East Valley and Fountain Hills. Our process begins with a thorough inspection of your property, followed by a customized plan to make your yard less inviting to rattlesnakes.
Reduce Snake Encounters with Integrated Rodent Control and Yard Maintenance
Snakes are drawn to areas that offer food and shelter—usually where rodent activity is present or yard conditions provide cover. That’s why a combination of proper rodent control and routine yard maintenance is key to reducing snake encounters. Our team is ready to implement proven measures that help create a safer, more comfortable environment for you and your family.
For more information about rattlesnake safety and what to do in case of a bite, see the helpful resources below.
Eliminate Snake Encounters with Rodent Control & Yard Maintenance
a Free Inspection
Snake Removal & Control in Fountain Hills, Scottsdale & the East Valley
Living in the Sonoran Desert means sharing the landscape with snakes — and the East Valley has some of the highest rattlesnake activity in Arizona. At Cummings Termite & Pest, we have been handling snake calls for homeowners and businesses in Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Rio Verde since 1972. If a snake has turned up on your property, here is what you need to know — and what to do.
Common Snake Species in the East Valley
The desert habitat surrounding communities like Fountain Hills, Rio Verde, and the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve puts East Valley residents in close proximity to a wide range of native snake species.
Venomous Species
The Western diamondback rattlesnake is the most common venomous snake in the region and is responsible for the majority of rattlesnake bites in Arizona. It is a heavy-bodied snake with a distinctive diamond pattern and a loud rattle that it does not always use before striking. The Mojave rattlesnake is smaller and lighter in color, but its venom is among the most potent of any North American snake — containing both neurotoxic and hemotoxic components. Do not underestimate it based on size. The Arizona coral snake (also called the Sonoran coral snake) is small, secretive, and identified by its red, yellow, and black banding. It is rarely aggressive but its bite is medically serious.
Non-Venomous Species
The king snake and the gopher snake are the non-venomous species we encounter most often on East Valley properties. Both are beneficial — king snakes are natural predators of rattlesnakes, and gopher snakes control rodent populations. A gopher snake is frequently mistaken for a rattlesnake because it flattens its head and vibrates its tail when threatened. Neither species should be harmed.
How to Tell Venomous from Non-Venomous — and Why It Does Not Matter
You may have heard that triangular head shape, elliptical (cat-slit) pupils, or the presence of a rattle distinguish venomous snakes from harmless ones. While these are real characteristics, they require you to be close enough to observe them — which is exactly where you do not want to be. A gopher snake in defensive posture looks convincingly like a rattlesnake. A Mojave rattlesnake is easy to misread as a gopher snake at a glance. The only reliable rule is this: treat every snake as potentially venomous until a professional has identified it. Back away, keep people and pets clear, and call us.
What Attracts Snakes to Your Property
Snakes follow food, water, and shelter. Properties in Fountain Hills, Rio Verde, and the desert-edge neighborhoods of Scottsdale and Mesa are particularly attractive because of the natural adjacency to open desert. Specific attractors include:
- Rodent activity — The single biggest attractor. A yard with mice or rats is a yard that will eventually see rattlesnakes. Addressing your rodent population is the most effective long-term snake prevention measure.
- Water sources — Swimming pools, drip irrigation systems, and water features draw snakes, especially during the hot months of May through September when desert water sources dry up.
- Rock piles and woodpiles — These provide exactly the kind of cool, sheltered daytime hiding spots that snakes seek. Keep stored materials elevated and away from the house.
- Dense low-lying landscaping — Ground cover, overgrown shrubs, and heavy leaf litter along block walls or fences create ideal travel corridors and ambush cover.
- Gaps and openings in structures — Unsealed garage door gaps, openings around plumbing penetrations, and damaged weatherstripping can allow snakes access to enclosed spaces.
Prevention: Reducing the Risk on Your Property
No landscaping change will guarantee a snake-free yard in the Sonoran Desert, but these measures significantly reduce encounters:
Keep grass mowed short and remove leaf and debris piles promptly. Store firewood at least 18 inches off the ground and away from the home’s foundation. Seal openings around the base of your garage door and any utility penetrations. Address rodent problems immediately — this is not optional if you live near open desert. Consider professionally installed snake-exclusion fencing along the perimeter walls of your property, which we can assess and recommend during a property inspection.
What to Do If You See a Snake
Stay calm and back away slowly. Do not attempt to pick up, trap, or kill the snake — a significant percentage of rattlesnake bites in Arizona occur when people try to handle or kill the snake themselves. Keep children and pets inside. Note the location and, if you can do so safely from a distance, the snake’s general appearance — color, pattern, size, and whether you heard a rattle. Then call us.
If the snake has entered your home, keep the door to that room closed, place a towel along the bottom of the door to prevent it from moving to another room, and call immediately. Do not corner it.
If You or Someone Else Is Bitten
Call 911 immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, do not attempt to cut and suck the wound, and do not apply ice. Keep the affected limb at or below heart level and try to remain calm to slow circulation of venom. If you can note the snake’s appearance without getting closer, that information helps emergency responders and the treating physician. The nearest resource for poisoning guidance is the Banner Poison & Drug Information Center. Get to an emergency room as quickly as possible — antivenom is highly effective when administered promptly.
Our Professional Removal Process
When you call Cummings Termite & Pest for a snake removal, a trained technician arrives equipped to safely capture and relocate the snake using professional hooks and tubes — no harm to the animal, no risk to your family. After removal, we conduct a property inspection to identify the attractors and entry points that brought the snake in. We will give you a straight assessment of what changes will reduce your risk and whether exclusion fencing is warranted for your property.
We offer emergency snake removal service across Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Rio Verde.
Call for Emergency Snake Removal
Do not wait with a venomous snake on your property. Call Cummings Termite & Pest at (480) 994-9599. We have been the East Valley’s trusted pest and wildlife specialists for over 50 years, and we will handle it safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What snakes are commonly found in Scottsdale and the East Valley? +
The East Valley is home to a variety of snake species. Common non-venomous snakes include gopher snakes (often mistaken for rattlesnakes), king snakes, and coachwhip snakes. Venomous species include several rattlesnake varieties — most commonly the Western diamondback rattlesnake, the Mojave rattlesnake, and the sidewinder. Homes in Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Paradise Valley, Rio Verde, and the edges of Mesa and Gilbert near desert preserves are most likely to encounter snakes.
How do I know if a snake in my yard is venomous? +
In Arizona, rattlesnakes are the primary venomous snake concern. They are identified by a triangular-shaped head, vertical pupils, a thick body, and of course the rattle on the tail — though young rattlesnakes may have only a small button that does not make noise. The safest approach is to treat every snake as potentially dangerous, keep your distance, and call a professional. Cummings Pest Control can help with snake identification and removal.
What should I do if I find a snake on my property? +
Keep your distance — at least six feet away. Do not attempt to catch, kill, or relocate the snake yourself. Keep children and pets inside. If the snake is near your home, contact Cummings Pest Control or a wildlife removal service for safe removal. If a rattlesnake is posing an immediate threat to someone, call 911. Most snakes will leave on their own if given space and time.
What attracts snakes to my property? +
Snakes follow their food — primarily rodents, lizards, and insects. If your property has a rodent problem, you are more likely to attract snakes. Dense landscaping, rock piles, wood stacks, and ground-level water sources also create attractive habitat. Homes near washes, open desert, and golf courses in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills tend to see more snake activity. Cummings Pest Control’s rodent control services directly reduce the factors that attract snakes.
Can Cummings Pest Control keep snakes out of my yard? +
While no method is 100 percent effective at preventing wild snake encounters, we can significantly reduce the likelihood. Our approach focuses on habitat modification — removing attractants like rodent populations, sealing gaps in block walls and foundations, clearing debris, and advising on landscaping changes. We also offer granular snake repellent treatments around your property’s perimeter. The most effective snake deterrent is eliminating the prey that brings them to your yard in the first place.
Do snake repellents from the hardware store actually work? +
Most commercial snake repellents have limited effectiveness, and independent testing has shown mixed results at best. Mothballs, which some people scatter around their yard, are actually toxic to children and pets and are not approved for outdoor use. Professional-grade repellents applied by Cummings Pest Control, combined with habitat modification and rodent control, provide a much more reliable multi-layered approach to reducing snake encounters.
When are snakes most active in Arizona? +
Snakes are most active from March through October when temperatures are warm. During the hottest summer months, they become more nocturnal, so you are more likely to encounter them in the evening, at night, or in the early morning. Rattlesnake season peaks during monsoon months (July through September) when moisture brings out more prey. Snakes can be encountered year-round in Arizona’s mild climate, though they are less active in winter.
Is it legal to kill a rattlesnake in Arizona? +
Arizona law allows you to kill a rattlesnake if it poses an immediate threat to you or someone else. However, it is generally safer to simply back away and call a professional. Attempting to kill a snake significantly increases your chance of being bitten. Many snakebite injuries occur when people try to kill or handle snakes. Cummings Pest Control recommends calling us for safe removal rather than taking the risk yourself.
What should I do if someone is bitten by a rattlesnake? +
Call 911 immediately. Keep the person calm and still to slow the spread of venom. Remove jewelry and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts. Do not apply ice, do not use a tourniquet, do not try to suck out the venom, and do not cut the bite wound — these outdated first aid methods can cause additional harm. Arizona has excellent snakebite treatment available at area hospitals. Antivenom is the standard treatment and is most effective when administered promptly.
Can I snake-proof my home and yard? +
You can significantly reduce snake access by sealing gaps under gates and doors, installing snake-proof mesh fencing (quarter-inch hardware cloth buried a few inches underground), removing ground-level hiding spots, and keeping your yard clear of rodent attractants. Cummings Pest Control can perform a snake assessment of your property and recommend specific improvements. Combined with our rodent control services, these measures create a much less inviting environment for snakes.