Snake Control FAQ – Cummings Pest Control

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.