Rattlesnake dens under Phoenix houses? Not likely.
A Texas family found 45 rattlesnakes living under their house. There are several reasons that's not likely to happen in the Phoenix area.
There's a good chance you've watched the video of the Texas family that discovered 45 rattlesnakes living under their home.
And if you did watch that video, there's a real good chance you're wondering if such a thing could happen here in Phoenix.
The short answer is yes. It could happen here, but it probably won't.
According to some local rattlesnake experts, there isn't anything special about the Texas rattlers that made them congregate en masse under that family's house near Abilene. It was probably just favorable circumstances partially created by how homes are constructed in that area.
She said the way most Phoenix-area houses are built doesn't provide a haven for snakes. In Texas, the mass of snakes was in a crawlspace under the house. Crawlspaces are not common in Phoenix.
Your home is probably built on a slab, but you can still take steps to make your property less attractive to snakes.
Organizations such as the Arizona Herpetological Association or the Phoenix Herpetological Society can help with snake removal and offer tips to make your place less attractive to rattlers.
Daniel Marchand, curator of the Phoenix Herpetological Society Reptile Sanctuary and Zoo in Scottsdale, said he hasn't encountered such a large group of snakes in one spot in the Valley.
He said the snakes probably would have moved on from under the house once winter was over.
Rials concurred that it's not common to find such a large group of snakes around here, but it's not unheard of.
The type of snake also plays a role in whether it will congregate in large groups. Certain species are more social than others, Rials said.
Rials said she has come across dens with 20-30 snakes and knows people who have encountered 40 or more Grand Canyon rattlesnakes.
Maybe check your pool area?
While Phoenix houses don't typically provide snake-friendly habitat, other things we build here do.
"Here they like rocky outcrops, and man-made rock outcrops are perfect for them," Rials said. "A lot of times people will have pools and they'll have huge, elaborate rocky pool features they put in. Then they go outside and out of nowhere three snakes might pop out.
Reach the reporter at weldon.johnson@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8817. Or follow him on Twitter at @weldonjohnson. Support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today.