What To Do If You Find a Rattlesnake in Your Backyard in Napa ValleyStay Calm and Keep Your DistanceFinding a rattlesnake in your backyard can be alarming, but the most important thing to remember is not to panic. Rattlesnakes are defensive animals and generally prefer to avoid people. Most bites occur when someone attempts to handle, capture, or kill the snake. Give the snake plenty of space and keep it in sight from a safe distance. 
Bring Children and Pets IndoorsDogs are especially vulnerable to rattlesnake bites because they often investigate snakes out of curiosity. Immediately bring pets and children inside and keep them away from the area until the snake has left or been safely removed. 
Do Not Attempt to Remove the Snake YourselfMany rattlesnake bites happen when homeowners try to move or kill a snake. Even experienced outdoorsmen can be bitten. The safest option is to leave the snake alone and contact a professional rattlesnake removal specialist. 
Watch the Snake From a Safe DistanceIf possible, keep an eye on the snake so you can direct the removal specialist to its location. Many snakes disappear into landscaping, wood piles, rock walls, or under decks before help arrives.
Call a Professional Rattlesnake Removal ServiceA trained rattlesnake removal specialist can safely capture and relocate the snake while minimizing risk to people, pets, and the animal itself.
How to Reduce Future Rattlesnake EncountersHomeowners can make their property less attractive to rattlesnakes by:

• Controlling rodent populations
• Keeping grass trimmed
• Removing brush piles and debris
• Eliminating hiding spots around structures
• Installing rattlesnake-resistant fencing where appropriate

These measures can significantly reduce the likelihood of future encounters. 
Rattlesnakes Are Common Throughout Napa ValleyRattlesnakes are frequently encountered in Napa, St. Helena, Calistoga, Yountville, Angwin, and surrounding communities, especially during warm spring and summer months. Vineyards, open space, creek corridors, and rural residential properties provide ideal habitat for Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes.
Need Rattlesnake Removal in Napa Valley?If you discover a rattlesnake on your property, keep a safe distance and contact a professional removal specialist. Prompt removal can help keep your family, guests, and pets safe while ensuring the snake is handled appropriately.

Working in wildlife removal means you never know when the next call is going to come in. Recently, I received a call from a concerned homeowner in Napa, California, while I was waiting to get my hair cut.
The client told me she had discovered a large rattlesnake sitting on one of her patio lounge chairs. Understandably, she was alarmed and wanted the snake removed as quickly as possible.
Since I was only about 12 minutes away, I decided to leave before my haircut and head straight to her property. Within 15 minutes, I arrived at the home and began assessing the situation.
Sure enough, the rattlesnake was exactly where the homeowner said it would be—coiled comfortably on the patio lounge chair. Fortunately, the snake was calm and not behaving aggressively. Using my professional snake tongs, I carefully and gently secured the rattlesnake and safely transferred it into my snake bucket.
Once the snake was safely contained, the homeowner could finally relax knowing her patio was safe again. The entire removal went smoothly, and I charged my standard minimum service fee for the call.
Encounters like this are a good reminder that rattlesnakes can show up in unexpected places, especially during warmer months when they are actively searching for food, water, shade, or a comfortable place to rest. Patio furniture, landscaping features, and other sheltered areas can sometimes become temporary hiding spots.
If you discover a rattlesnake on your property, the safest thing to do is keep your distance, keep pets and family members away from the area, and contact a qualified wildlife professional for assistance.
Every snake removal is different, but this call serves as a perfect example of how quickly a routine day can turn into a wildlife rescue mission.

​Friday mornings can be unpredictable in the wildlife removal business, and this call was a perfect example.
At approximately 10:00 AM on a Friday, I received a call from a property manager regarding one of her vacation rental properties in Sonoma. The home was occupied by guests, and they had discovered a rattlesnake coiled beneath an outdoor patio table. Understandably, they were concerned and wanted the snake removed as quickly as possible.
At the time of the call, I was about 30 minutes away. I assured the property manager that I would head over immediately and asked if the guests could safely keep an eye on the snake from a distance until I arrived.
Traffic and road conditions added a few extra minutes to the trip, but I arrived at the property within 45 minutes of receiving the call. After letting myself through the gate, I made my way to the backyard, where a group of concerned guests was waiting.
The rattlesnake was exactly where they said it would be—coiled quietly beneath a small patio table. What made the situation particularly concerning was the location. Had someone sat down at the table without noticing the snake, their feet would have been only inches away from it.
Upon inspection, I determined that it was a young rattlesnake, likely around one year old. Although smaller than an adult, juvenile rattlesnakes should always be treated with caution and respect.
Using professional snake-handling equipment, I carefully and safely picked up the snake and placed it into my secure transport bucket. The removal was completed without incident, and the guests were relieved to know they could safely enjoy the outdoor space again.
After removing the rattlesnake from the property, I charged only my minimum service fee. In situations involving occupied vacation rentals, quick response times are essential to protect both guests and property owners, and I'm always happy to help when wildlife unexpectedly shows up.
This incident serves as a good reminder that rattlesnakes can occasionally be found in backyards, patios, and landscaped areas throughout Sonoma County—especially during the warmer months. Before sitting down outdoors, it's always a good idea to take a quick look around, particularly in areas where wildlife may seek shade or shelter.
If you discover a rattlesnake on your property, keep a safe distance, do not attempt to handle it yourself, and contact a qualified professional for assistance.

Recently, I received a call from homeowners in Benicia who had spotted a rattlesnake moving across their backyard. The snake eventually disappeared beneath a log along the edge of their property, leaving the homeowners concerned about the safety of their family and pets.
After gathering the address, I determined that I was approximately 28 minutes away. I advised the homeowners to keep a safe distance from the snake and, if possible, maintain visual contact with its location until I arrived. This helps prevent the snake from moving into a more difficult-to-access area and allows for a quicker, safer removal.
Due to traffic and travel time, I arrived at the property about 32 minutes later. Fortunately, the rattlesnake had remained in the same location beneath the log. After assessing the situation, I was able to safely capture the snake using professional snake tongs and place it securely into my snake transport bucket.
Because the removal was straightforward and the snake had remained visible and accessible, I charged only my minimum service fee for the capture and relocation. Once secured, the rattlesnake was relocated to appropriate habitat away from residential areas where it could continue playing its important role in the local ecosystem.
Encounters like this highlight the importance of giving snakes plenty of space and calling a professional when a venomous snake is found on your property. Attempting to handle a rattlesnake yourself can be extremely dangerous. In this case, the homeowners did exactly the right thing by keeping an eye on the snake from a safe distance and contacting a professional for assistance.
If you discover a rattlesnake on your property in Benicia or anywhere in Solano County, remain calm, keep children and pets away from the area, and contact a qualified wildlife professional for safe removal and relocation.

I got a call at 11am from a property manager who was looking after a house on the west side of St.Helena near Spring Mountain Rd. She had seen a snake in the rocky landscape near the front door of the home and wanted it removed immediately. I asked her if she could still see the snake and she said she had lost sight of it. I dropped everything I was doing and told her I was coming from Napa and would be there in 30 minutes. I arrived at 11:33, met the client on the driveway and she pointed to where she had seen the Snake. I found a 2 and a half foot  Western Diamondback Rattle Snake coiled up behind a large boulder. The Snake was not happy to see me and let me know with its Rattle, as I positioned myself to get a good angle to gently pick it up with my snake tongs. I was able to pick the snake up without much resistance and place it gently in my snake bucket. I loaded the bucket into my truck and got a huge thank you from the property manger.

How to get rid of Skunks from under your home or deck. This is a common question I get from Home owners. They know they want the skunks removed but don't know how to Remove the skunks. Homeowners should first locate how the Skunks are getting into the crawlspace under the home or deck and proceed from there. If they are entering from a damaged or missing foundation vent of a homes crawlspace a possible option is to install a one way door on the opening so the skunks can leave and then not get back under the home. The Skunks will have to find new shelter in the area at that point. Another option homeowners have is to Call a professional trapper and have the Skunk removed from the crawlspace and property, never to return. 

I got a call from a customer in Rhonert Park who believed he had a skunk in his crawl space. He had found a hole that lead under his foundation in the front of his house. He explained to me that he has had Skunk Problems before and that his foundation is not very deep. I scheduled a time with him for me to come out that afternoon. I arrived and set up a ring stickup camera that I connected to his WiFi. I reached in the hole and placed the camera under the foundation in the hole. This will let me know exactly what is under his house. I then set two traps in front of the hole and blocked them in with plywood and cement blocks. I do this so I am only catching the animals that are under his house and not something just passing by who might be attracted to the bait. I set another Ring Stick Up camera looking at the 2 traps so I will be able to see exactly what is in the traps in the morning. That night around midnight the camera under the house picked up movement by a skunk. It left through the hole and went right into one of the waiting traps. I saw the video of the skunk in the trap immediately when I woke up at 5:30am and I was on the road to remove the skunk by 6am. I set up the traps in such a way that allowed me to walk up behind them without being seen by the skunk in the trap. I was extra careful not to make any noise as I covered the trap and removed the skunk. I was successful this time in removing the skunk without it spraying. I always shoot for that but sometimes they spray without warning.

I had a call the other week from a Winery in The Napa Valley That needed a Bat removed from the entrance to their wine cave. The Call came in while I was heading to another job that luck fully didn't have a set time for the appointment. I quickly turned my truck around and headed back into the Napa Valley to get to this winery before any scheduled guests were going to be entering the cave. I managed to arrive just 45 minuted from the time the call was placed. I found the bat immediately, removed it and cleared the cave.

A bat flew into my building tonight was the call I got late Sunday night. It was from a manager of a 2nd hand store in Vacaville and he wanted the bat removed as soon as possible. I told him I'd be there first thing in the morning and I'd do everything I could to locate the bat and remove it. I arrived the following morning and searched the store for the bat. the employee's told me the bat was locked inside over night and they hadn't seen it yet that morning. I gave the building a once over hoping to find the Bat in an easy to see and reach location. The first place around the ceiling and rafters of the store didn't offer any such luck. I moved to looking behind pictures on the wall, boxes and furniture and was still coming up empty handed. I looked behind light fixtures and lamps with no luck. I azxked the employee's if any other doors were open when they arrived to see if there were any other possible rooms the bat could be in. They informed me that the receiving room door was open and that it could possibly be in there. I searched that room and found it roosting at the corner of a twenty foot ceiling. I grabbed my extension ladder climbed to the bat and gently removed it. I took it outside and released it. The Bat flew away, most likely back to its original roost.