New planet discovered
Wild
Encounters
🌵 Cactus Forest • Florence, Arizona
A personal field log of the creatures that cross my path. Real photos, real videos, what actually happened, useful creature information, and enough humor to admit that wildlife does not care about anyone's schedule.
Real creatures. Real encounters. Occasionally questionable timing.
🐍 Encounter Log #004
Hidden in Plain Sight
Camouflaged Rattler • Safe Relocation
📅 September 24, 2026📍 Cactus Forest / Florence, Arizona⚠️ Venomous encounter
“Before and after. First video—do you see the snake? Then I relocated the rattler and bumped the tote so he would move faster. That got him going.”
The first clip is the real lesson: the rattler is stretched along the fence and around the base of the tree, but its pattern almost vanishes into the gravel, shadows and dry palm fronds. The second clip records the release. Once the tote moves, the snake switches from a slow exit to a much more alert defensive coil.
⚠️ What this encounter shows
- Rattlesnakes can be extremely difficult to see even when they are only a few feet away.
- Dry fronds, rock borders, fence lines and tree bases deserve a careful visual check before reaching or stepping nearby.
- A snake that seems calm can become defensive instantly when the container or ground around it moves.
- This is a personal field record, not a relocation tutorial. Keep people and pets away and use an experienced snake remover when possible.
🌵 Field Commentary
Before: “Snake? What snake? I am gravel.”
After the tote bump: “All right, now you have my full attention.”
Human: “Well…that got him going.”
🐍 Encounter Log #001
Double Snake Day
Gopher Snake + Baby Rattlesnake
📅 August 30, 2026📍 Cactus Forest / Florence, Arizona⚠️ Venomous encounter included
“Found two snakes in the yard today. One was a gopher snake. The other was a baby rattlesnake that I almost stepped on because I didn't see it. Arizona apparently scheduled a double feature.”
Two snakes turned up around the yard on the same day, and they were a perfect example of why identifying a snake matters. The gopher snake is nonvenomous and useful around property because it hunts rodents. The young rattlesnake is venomous and deserves plenty of space. Small does not mean harmless.
NONVENOMOUSGopher Snake
A native constrictor and valuable rodent hunter. Gopher snakes may hiss loudly, flatten the head and rapidly vibrate the tail when threatened. In dry vegetation that tail vibration can sound surprisingly rattlesnake-like.
- Not venomous.
- Helps control mice, rats, gophers and other small prey.
- Can imitate some rattlesnake-style defensive behavior.
- Best response in most situations: give it room and allow it to move away.
VENOMOUSBaby Rattlesnake
Young rattlesnakes are venomous from birth. Their small size can make them harder to notice around rocks, plants, fencing and yard clutter.
- Venomous, even when very small.
- A bite is a medical emergency.
- Do not depend on hearing a rattle. Young snakes may have only a small button and rattlesnakes do not always rattle before defending themselves.
- The common claim that babies are automatically “more dangerous because they cannot control their venom” is a myth. Any rattlesnake bite should be treated seriously.
| Clue | Gopher Snake | Rattlesnake |
|---|
| Venom | Nonvenomous | Venomous |
| Tail | No true segmented rattle; may vibrate tail | Rattle or small button at tail tip, though it may be hard to see |
| Role around the yard | Rodent control and part of the local food web | Also controls rodents, but requires greater distance because of venom |
| When surprised | May hiss, coil, flatten head or bluff | May coil, rattle, retreat or strike defensively |
| Best human move | Back away and let it leave | Back away farther, keep people and pets clear, and contact a trained remover if relocation is needed |
⚠️ Desert Yard Safety Takeaway
- Watch where you step, especially near rocks, trees, fencing, pots, brush, lumber and shaded edges.
- Never use head shape alone to identify a snake. Several harmless species can flatten their heads when defensive.
- If you cannot identify a snake confidently from a safe distance, treat it cautiously and give it space.
- Keep children and pets away from an unknown or venomous snake.
- If a rattlesnake bite occurs, call emergency services or poison control and get medical care promptly. Do not cut the bite, suck out venom, apply ice, or use a tourniquet.
🌵 Field Commentary
Gopher snake: “Just passing through. Rodent-control department.”
Baby rattlesnake: “Tiny body. Extremely serious terms and conditions.”
Human: “Almost stepped on that one. New policy: look down before boldly going anywhere.”
🐍 Encounter Log #002
Two Rattlers, One Release Day
Two Western Diamondbacks • Caught and Released
📅 October 25, 2025📍 Cactus Forest / Florence, Arizona⚠️ Two venomous encounters
“Two rattlesnakes in one day. Both were caught around the property and released away from the house. Apparently the desert had scheduled another double feature before I knew that was going to become a theme.”
These three original clips record two rattlesnake encounters from October 25, 2025: a close look at one snake in the container, a nighttime release, and a daylight release. The strong black-and-white tail bands and dorsal diamond pattern are characteristic of Western diamondback rattlesnakes.
Important safety note: This is a personal field record, not a capture tutorial. Rattlesnakes are venomous, fast at close range, and unpredictable when restrained. Visitors should keep people and pets away and contact an experienced snake remover rather than attempting capture or relocation themselves.
🌵 Field Commentary
First rattler: “Your property inspection is complete.”
Second rattler: “I’m here for the night shift.”
Human: “Two safe releases. Zero invitations to return.”
🦊 Encounter Log #003
Loss, Then a Little Life
Coyote Break-In • A Flock Lost • One New Beginning
📅 October 2025📍 Cactus Forest / Florence, Arizona⚠️ Graphic hatching footage
“It’s been a rough few days. Coyotes broke through what I thought was a secure zone on my property. I lost my duck and five of my chickens—including Trader Joe. That one hits the hardest.”
Trader Joe was special: the only fertilized egg that hatched out of the dozen I bought from Trader Joe’s. I raised him from the moment he cracked that shell. Losing a duck and five chickens was already painful, but losing the bird with that history made the attack hit even harder.
Graphic-content warning: The hatching footage below shows a newborn chick emerging wet from its shell. It is a real birth and may be uncomfortable for some viewers. The videos do not show the coyote killing the birds.
Funny how life works: heartbreaking one day, hopeful the next. Just yesterday, this new baby chick hatched—a reminder that even after loss, life finds a way to start over again.
⚠️ Predator-Safety Takeaway
- Coyotes can climb, jump, dig and exploit surprisingly small gaps in fencing or gates.
- After an attack, inspect the entire enclosure—including the roofline, ground edge, corners and latches—because the entry point may not be obvious.
- Use sturdy hardware cloth or welded wire where practical; ordinary chicken wire is designed to contain poultry, not stop determined predators.
- Secure birds before dusk and avoid leaving feed or carcasses where they may attract another visit.
🌵 Field Commentary
The desert: “Nothing here is guaranteed.”
The hatchling: “I’m here anyway.”
Human: “Trader Joe won’t be forgotten. We reinforce, we remember, and we keep going.”
Encounter archive
Close Encounters of the Wild Kind
The archive has officially begun. Future encounters will stack here as they happen, along with older photos and videos that deserve their own field report.
🐍
#004 — Hidden in Plain Sight
A nearly invisible rattler by the tree and fence, followed by a safe relocation and one very effective tote bump.
SEP 24, 2026 • RATTLESNAKE
🐍
#001 — Double Snake Day
Gopher snake and young rattlesnake encountered in the yard on the same day.
AUG 30, 2026 • REPTILES
⚠️
#002 — Two Rattlers
Two Western diamondbacks caught around the property and released on the same day.
OCT 25, 2025 • RATTLESNAKES
🦊🐣
#003 — Loss, Then Life
Coyote intrusion took a duck and five chickens, followed days later by the arrival of a new chick.
OCT 2025 • COYOTE / FLOCK
📼
Past encounters welcome
Older photos and videos can become dated archive entries, so this field log can grow backward as well as forward.
ARCHIVE • OPEN
🌵
Next encounter
Whatever the desert sends next gets a real story, actual creature information, and its own place in the log.
STATUS • SCANNING THE YARD