Diamondback Rattlesnake Found Entangled in Bicycle
A western diamondback rattlesnake found itself entangled in a bicycle’s spokes in an Arizona garage. The snake was safely removed by Bryce Anderson of Rattlesnake Solutions and released into the wild.
By Beth Snider · January 30, 2024
A north Phoenix garage is where a daring western diamondback rattlesnake found itself in a rather peculiar predicament – entangled in the spokes of a parked bicycle. The snake, nearly three feet long, was discovered by the homeowners who promptly called in snake wrangler, Bryce Anderson, of Rattlesnake Solutions to handle the situation.
The photos, captured on January 20 and shared on Facebook, depict the snake coiled up in the spokes, giving Anderson a defiant stare. While the situation might seem laughable to some it’s not entirely unusual for rattlesnakes in the wild to climb when given the opportunity.
"I was called out for a rattlesnake that the homeowners had seen in their garage after arriving home for the day. I found our culprit coiled up in the spokes, seemingly pretty comfortable, It’s the first time I’ve found a snake entangled in a bike like that!"
The post on Facebook has garnered hundreds of comments, with many finding humor in the situation. Some cleverly dubbed it the “best anti-theft device ever seen on a bike.” One commenter wrote, “This is the stuff of my nightmares! I might just throw out my bike,” while another speculated, “Maybe he was trying to reach the pedals!”
Curiosity centered on how Anderson managed to remove the snake without sustaining a bite. Although he didn’t provide specific details, he mentioned that apprehending the snake was not without its challenges.
“Upon attempting to apprehend our suspect, he became noticeably defensive, and gave me a little bit of trouble,” Anderson shared. “But within a few minutes, I had him safe and secured in a bucket.” After the daring rescue operation, the rattlesnake was released into a wilderness area, “away from homes and bicycles, much to his dismay,” as reported by Rattlesnake Solutions.
Western diamondbacks are native to Arizona and typically measure between 3 to 5 feet in length, according to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. However, some specimens up to 7 feet long have been discovered.