Humans generally fear snakes, and the immediate reaction upon seeing one is often to try and kill it. This sentiment is widespread globally. In Arizona, USA, as human settlements expand, the natural habitats of snakes are being destroyed. As a result, snakes are increasingly finding their way into backyards and homes, leading to growing public concern. However, some snake experts and organizations are working to capture and relocate snakes instead of killing them. Let’s delve deeper into this issue.

The conflict between snakes and humans is escalating. While some people kill snakes they find in their homes, is there a better approach?

When Kristy Renac was asked if she had called the “Rattlesnake Hotline” and if there was a 3-foot (1-meter) rattlesnake with white stripes on its tail in her backyard, she confirmed, “It’s right there.” She watched the snake from her window. It was clearly a venomous Western Diamondback Rattlesnake that had ventured inside her field fence. Renac was informed that someone would arrive soon to catch and relocate the snake.

Renac waited, unafraid of the snake despite the potentially fatal bite. She felt safe inside her home with her two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs. Living near the foothills of Rio Verde Mountain, close to Scottsdale, Arizona, Renac knows that snakes can sometimes enter her property because of its proximity to the desert. However, Renac doesn’t want snakes to linger near her home, primarily because of her horses. When horses graze close to the ground to spot snakes, they risk being bitten on the nose. “If their noses swell up, they can’t breathe,” Renac explained.

Snake-Human Conflict and Climate Change

In the United States, between 7,000 and 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year. Pets face an even higher risk of death from snakebites. Rattlesnakes are among America’s most venomous snake species. Research from 2019 indicated that 11,138 people experienced snakebites, with over half identifying the species. A significant number of these bites were from rattlesnakes. According to a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, 10-44% of snakebite victims suffer permanent injuries, such as the loss of a finger.

Experts told the BBC that real estate developers interfering with snake habitats to build apartments or buildings are increasing the potential for human-snake conflict. Climate change could exacerbate this problem, as rising temperatures destroy some snake habitats and force snakes to seek cooler areas.

Snakes play a crucial role in local ecosystems, maintaining the balance of nature and wildlife. Experts argue that killing every snake found in or near our homes is not only unethical but could ultimately create problems for humans. In some cases, there is no alternative to killing a snake, such as when they become overly aggressive towards local wildlife. Capturing and killing such aggressive snakes can help maintain ecological balance.

Human Encroachment into Rattlesnake Habitats

In Arizona and other parts of the United States, some volunteer organizations are dedicated to live-capturing and relocating local snakes. Housing developments in Arizona have expanded into desert regions, transforming shrubland into residential areas. This means people are now living in places where rattlesnakes are commonly found.

A company called “Rattlesnake Solutions” plays a vital role in addressing this issue. When snakes are found in areas where they pose a threat to human or pet lives, this organization captures and relocates them. According to the company, requests for rattlesnake removal from residential mountain areas have increased.

Last April, when Kristy Renac spotted an Eastern Diamondback snake in her field, she called Rattlesnake Solutions. A member of the firm quickly arrived at Kristy’s field. Kristy Renac watched as the snake handler gently lifted the snake with long “snake tongs” and placed it into a lidded box with small ventilation holes. The snake handler then released the snake into the desert, where it had numerous burrows for hiding and plenty of mice to hunt. There were no bright lights, just thousands of stars as its companions. Renac was delighted that everything went well. “I don’t think animals should be killed because they’ve come out of their habitat and come here,” she said.

There’s another reason why these rattlesnakes are relocated: their numerous benefits. For example, they consume many rodents, helping to control their population, which is highly beneficial for farmers as an abundance of rodents can damage crops. A study in Australia estimated that Eastern Brown Snakes consume thousands of rodents per square kilometer of farmland annually. Rattlesnakes in North America contribute similarly to the environment.

Benefits of Snakes

Snakes also aid in the growth of new plants. Rodents often carry seeds in their mouths, and when rattlesnakes eat these rodents, they sometimes inadvertently ingest seeds. These seeds can then germinate after being expelled from the snake’s body. US researchers published a study in 2018 explaining this process. Rattlesnakes’ hunting abilities can also reduce the incidence of Lyme disease, which is spread by insects like ticks, because snakes consume the small mammals that carry these ticks.

Despite these benefits, some snake species are currently facing extinction. For instance, the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake population is declining, and the Arizona Black Rattlesnake is endangered. A 2022 study indicated that due to rising temperatures caused by climate change, 71% of rattlesnake species in America could experience a shortage of suitable habitat by 2040.

Understanding Snakes and Accepting Their Presence

When Bryan Hughes first held a snake at age five, members of the Herpetological Society, a local organization that studies and cares for amphibians and reptiles, brought a Scarlet King Snake to a nature center near where Bryan lived in Oregon. Though small, the snake was incredibly beautiful. Bryan Hughes was captivated by its vibrant red, yellow, and black stripes. The snake was so bright and clean it almost appeared wet. Bryan recalled that moment: “It was so amazing. There was an indescribable feeling when I held that animal in my hand at that moment.” He truly had no words to describe that feeling.

Afterward, Bryan Hughes read every book about snakes in the library. Soon, he began searching for snakes in the forest, describing it as a treasure hunt. After losing his marketing job in the 2008 global financial crisis, Bryan decided to pursue a career with his beloved snakes. Although he had no formal training, he volunteered for a time with the Herpetological Society, an organization that captured and relocated snakes found in homes, yards, or garages. The demand for this work was so high that Bryan Hughes decided to start a business offering such services. He created a logo and launched a website. Almost overnight, “Rattlesnake Solutions” was born.

Since then, Bryan Hughes and his colleagues in Arizona have captured and relocated thousands of snakes. He estimates he has caught and moved approximately 20,000 snakes, which means they catch and release about 1,500 snakes annually. Bryan Hughes has also co-authored several scientific papers on rattlesnakes. Relocating each snake costs homeowners about $150 (£113), and the process typically takes two hours.

Arizona is home to various snakes, including venomous rattlesnakes like the Western Diamondback and non-venomous species such as the Sonoran Gopher snake. Both can grow up to 6 feet (2 meters) long, making them easily noticeable if they wander into a backyard. Bryan Hughes states that he and his colleagues always try to provide information about the snakes they are called to catch. Educating homeowners about snakes and advising them on how to handle venomous snakes is a crucial opportunity. Rattlesnake Solutions also installs a special type of fence, dug into the ground around homes, to deter snakes. Hughes acknowledges, “It’s a very difficult job to ensure the snake lives and doesn’t immediately become a problem for others.”

Why Is Human-Snake Conflict Increasing?

Bryan Hughes and his colleagues have observed that the primary reason for increasing human-snake conflict is that housing developers repeatedly make the “same mistakes.” They use large rocks to prevent soil erosion during storms, creating rock piles that become ideal hiding spots for snakes. Additionally, homeowners often plant leafy shrubs in their gardens that require artificial irrigation. Snakes prefer to shelter under these wet, cool shrubs. The effects of these mistakes are amplified by climate change.

Snakes cannot regulate their body temperature, so during summer, they naturally seek refuge in lush human gardens. Notably, in 2023, Phoenix, Arizona, recorded 55 consecutive days with temperatures of 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius) or higher. Furthermore, when the weather is warm and sunny, people spend more time outdoors, creating situations where snakes and humans frequently encounter each other. Such conflicts can lead to an increase in snakebites.

However, experts say people must learn how to coexist with snakes. Emily Taylor, a snake expert at the University of California, Berkeley, states, “Rattlesnakes and humans can live together.” She herself relocates local snake species. While Taylor considers Bryan Hughes a friend, she clarifies that she has no commercial relationship with his company. They both agree that extensive housing development in desert regions will increase interactions between humans and snakes. In the coming years, more Arizona homeowners will likely encounter rattlesnakes on their property, especially each spring when snakes travel long distances in search of mates.

Renac concurs, stating, “We live in the desert, but snakes are part of that environment.” While rattlesnakes are often depicted as extremely dangerous, aggressive, and violent in television and films, Bryan Hughes’s fascination with them has never waned. He knows the truth. Rattlesnakes are wild animals whose existence is threatened by the expansion of human settlements and a society that largely misunderstands reptiles.