The research is important because we relocate hundreds of rattlesnakes a year, and I’m wondering if they come back into people’s yards, and if so how often they come back.”

Cale Morris, Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary resident venom manager

By Delarita Ford
Mail | Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

Rattlesnakes, relocation and research slither its way to the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary as a new project is underway to study the removal and return of snakes from residential areas.

Spearheaded by Cale Morris, Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary resident venom manager, the sanctuary is pursuing a new research project to help the community understand and coexist with the native wildlife in the area.

The Phoenix Herpetological Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is a statewide facility that includes a surrender facility, education program, and rescue and rehabilitation for numerous types of reptiles. The organization has been relocating rattlesnakes from people’s properties throughout the Valley for 20 years.

Despite historically coexisting, questions remain about when the rattlesnakes are relocated and if they return. Capturing the rattlesnakes and surgically implanting a transmitter inside them will help Morris to see if they come back or stay away.

“The research is important because we relocate hundreds of rattlesnakes a year, and I’m wondering if they come back into people’s yards, and if so how often they come back. Tracking them will allow me to see this,” said Morris, who has worked at PHS for 19 years and holds a masters of science education.

The study will offer insight into the rattlesnakes’ lives and whether non-lethal removal methods are an effective solution to problems with co-existing in a venomous snake habitat.
To conduct the study, Phoenix Herpetological Society has started a GoFundMe fundraiser with a goal of $4,000.

According to the online petition, an itemized breakdown to start the research includes every transmitter costing $377 and antennas for over $1,000 dollars. The $4,000 goal will cover the equipment costs to start this research. At the time of publication, nearly $1,500 has been raised.

He plans to put radio trackers in relocated rattlesnakes, which will take about an hour to implant the transmitter. The importance of the research is to assist conservation efforts and help people live safely around rattlesnakes.

“With hope, we will also begin offering local rattlesnake telemetry tours! This would be an opportunity for you to accompany our staff into the research zone in search of rattlesnakes,” Morris said.

Noting how easy it is to stay safe around rattlesnakes, Morris advised for people to give the snakes space. If humans leave the snakes alone, they will leave you alone, Morris says. He says the snakes do not chase people and are non-aggressive, like hiding, and like to be left alone.

“If you find one in your yard, do not try to move or kill them. Call a relocation agency like ours to have them safely relocated,” Morris said.

Rattlesnakes are common throughout the Valley in areas closest to the desert; Morris said there are six different species found locally.

Residents in the Surprise area have been advised to keep garage doors closed and properly sealed after a few rattlesnake sightings and encounters in the last three months, according to The Grand Lifestyles, a local community’s monthly activities publication, warning to inspect yards for nests after someone’s dog was recently bitten, and the hefty costs incurred from rattlesnake bites.

“Rattlesnakes are always looking for a nice cave and an open garage door appears to be a nice attractive cave,” the publication noted.

See the GoFundMe link at https://gofund.me/a2f12086 to learn more and donate.

Visit: phoenixherp.com

Delarita Ford
Lead Reporter | Surprise
@AzNewsmedia

dford@iniusa.org

Meet Delarita
Delarita Ford originally joined Independent Newspapers Incorporated, now Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA in 1997, as a general assignment reporter for the Delaware State News daily paper after starting her journalism career in Maryland in 1994, where she honed her skills by writing obituaries, covering community news from births to deaths, education to legislation and more. As a reporter, she has had the opportunity to cover sitting and former U.S. presidential visits in Baltimore, Delaware, and Arizona.

Community: One of the few seasoned journalists who still enjoys covering community events, she can be found with a reporter’s pad taking notes, her phone taking pictures while capturing life’s moments to memorialize them in print for the local newspapers and for the active-adult community where she lives. She maintains a presence with the Black media and the National Association of Black Journalists to encourage peers, socialize, and mentor younger writers.

Education: Life learner who learns from life. Aside from the collegiate education received, she got the best training from on-the-job experience with former editors who went through copy with a red pen and demanded the best writing for hard news and feature stories. 

Random Fact: While a Delaware State News reporter, she could call then Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, usually late at night if a quote or input was needed for varying topics, including legislation and education.

Hobbies: Adopt rescue dogs and give them a nice home. Continuously read and critique news stories from various platforms.