Viral Video Shows 20 Rattlesnakes that Invade a Man’s Garage… Yes, 20!

If the residents of this Arizona neighborhood were wondering where all the rattlesnakes were hanging out in 2015, they just found out! In the footage below we get to see an expert snake remover tackling 20 rattlesnakes in a man’s garage. There were at least five adults and many babies. Against the soundtrack of some very frantic rattling, the snake expert uses her pinchers to carefully move them into a sealed plastic container for transport. It’s a painstaking process but eventually, all of the adults are safely removed.

The babies may look cute, but they are very wriggly and quite difficult to handle.  There are so many offspring that at least two of the adults must have been Mom snakes.

Which Rattlesnakes Live in Arizona?

Arizona has the honor of being home to more rattlesnakes than any other State in the US. There are at least 15 different native species here spread out across wide-open spaces. Despite what we have seen in this clip, rattlesnakes try to avoid humans as much as they can. For the mother rattlesnakes, this garage was simply a warm sheltered place to raise their young. They did not realize they were on human property!

One of the most common rattlesnakes in Arizona is the western diamondback rattlesnake. It can be found in all parts of the State but is most often encountered in southwest desert areas. It’s also the largest rattlesnake in this area and can grow up to 6 feet in length. Western diamondbacks are known for being aggressive when they feel threatened. They are usually a tan or gray color and they have characteristic diamond-shaped markings running along the length of their body.

The Mojave rattlesnake can also be found in most parts of Arizona. It grows to about 54 inches in length and has a heavy gray body mixed with yellow, green, or brown. It has diamond-shaped blotches along its length.

How Do Rattlesnakes Normally Reproduce?

The female snakes in this clip have been busy having babies! They reproduce every one to three years. Before mating, they leave a scent trail for the males to follow. Unlike many other snake species, rattlesnakes do not lay eggs. The fertilized eggs gestate inside her body and she gives birth to between 10 and 20 live babies. Interestingly, baby rattlesnakes do not have a rattle – this develops once they start shedding their skin.

Watch the Incredible Clip Below

The photo featured at the top of this post is © PhilBilly/iStock via Getty Images