Warning Issued After Rattlesnakes Found in Pool Noodle
Scared of snakes? Does the mere thought of a slithery serpent lurking on the lawn give you goosebumps?
You’re certainly not alone. In fact, according to fearof.net, ophidiophobia — the fear of snakes — affects nearly one-third of our society.
It makes sense that this particular anxiety is rather hard-wired in humans. After all, protecting ourselves from potentially venomous creatures has helped ensure the survival of our own species to date.
So to avoid nasty shocks and serious injury, it’s probably wise to understand some of the natural places these carnivorous reptiles can hide. Dengarden.com explains that snakes, like many other living creatures, favor sheltered spaces that protect them from the elements — preferably, somewhere near a water source.
Such areas might include rock piles, tall weeds, piles of firewood, and shaded crevices. To the utter dismay of snake-phobic individuals everywhere, pool noodles just made the list as well.
According to reports from ABC 15 Arizona and other regional media outlets, that’s precisely where a family in Buckeye, Arizona recently discovered a whole group of rattlesnakes. Local firefighters were called to the scene — rather frantically, it’s safe to assume — when a full-grown rattler and several babies made a surprise appearance.
Evidently, the family was preparing to take a refreshing backyard dip. They picked up two pool noodles propped against a wall, and that’s when their disgruntled guests shot out into the open.
Professional serpent wrangler Greyson Getty of Phoenix–based Rattlesnake Solutions explains that Southwestern snakes often favor dark areas, such as corners. “It’s ungodly hot out,” he says of typical Arizona summer weather, “and snakes are just looking for somewhere to hide.”
Getty admits that this is the first time he’s actually run across a snake nestled inside a pool noodle. But he claims that he can easily understand the appeal.
“There’s a damp pool noodle in a dry desert,” Getty explains. “If I were a snake and I were dehydrated, I would go to the pool noodle too.”
Concerned about these elongated interlopers idling stealthily in your own backyard? Getty offers several suggestions to help avoid it.
For instance, he recommends keeping all pool toys up high — ideally, inside an enclosed container. He also says that if your residence borders the open desert, installing a snake fence isn’t a bad idea.
Homeowners everywhere are undoubtedly grateful for this extremely helpful heads-up. Think of it as the added motivation we all need to keep our backyard spaces neat, tidy, and clutter-free.
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