Rattlesnake surprises YTC employee at front door

A Yuma Test Center employee out of the Yuma Proving Ground found a scaly surprise outside his front door Tuesday night.

With the hot temperatures, more reptiles may be heading to your home to find shade to cool off.

“As I approached my front door, I saw this reptile sitting there. Oh my god, that’s a snake,” Lt. Col. Timothy Matthews said.

The experience may make Matthews look twice next time he walks up to his home. He called the police desk at YPG right away to help him remove the snake from the area.

“So, where’s the snake? I said, ‘hey it’s right around the corner right here at my front door,” Matthews continued.

It was a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.

Matthews said he was about two to three feet away from the snake and ended up capturing the moment on his phone.

“Where he was at, it was very cool,” Matthews said.

Arizona Game and Fish experts said snakes almost act as humans. When the weather is cold outside, they’ll go underground and when it’s too hot outside, they’ll find shade to keep cool.

When Matthews strolled up on the snake, he remained very calm.

“I think I was just very calm, you know like they always say, ‘hey, when something happens, stay calm.’ That’s what I was, I was very calm,” Matthews said.

It’s the first one he’s seen since moving here in the summer of 2017. It doesn’t mean there aren’t more out there.

“Good thing to judge, if it’s nice for people outside, it’s also nice for snakes,” Chris Bedinger, Public Information Officer for Arizona Game and Fish Department, said.

AZGFD said sidewinders and western diamondback rattlesnakes are the most common snakes found throughout Yuma. Both are also venomous snakes.

While many are under the impression snakes are always ready to attack, experts said they’re more scared of you.

“What we tell people is just leave them alone. If you’re aware of a snake, just leave it alone in its natural environment,” Bedinger added.

Matthews watched on as authorities captured the snake. Matthews recalled that when the rod reached the snake, he heard the rattle. They let the snake calm down after a few minutes before another attempt to capture him.

“Called the police on post… he captures him in less than about two minutes and puts him in the barrel,” Matthews added.

Matthews said the four to five foot long rattlesnake was then put back into the desert and l et the photo serve as a reminder to be more aware of your surroundings.

If you are bit by a venomous snake, call 911 immediately.

While you wait for medical help, experts recommend keeping the bite at or lower than your heart and remove all tight clothing.