Hidden rattlesnake falls from ceiling, plops down near Arizona homeowner, trapper says

Rattlesnakes are notoriously unpredictable, but even seasoned snake trappers admit it’s not often a western diamondback falls out of the sky.

It happened at a home in Scottsdale, Arizona, as snake catcher Bryce Anderson of Rattlesnake Solutions was searching for a rattlesnake last seen in the garage.

Anderson has a knack for finding rattlesnakes in odd places, including under welcome mats and behind toilets. However, it proved to be one of those rare instances where he was stumped.

“This was absolutely crazy. I was starting to scratch my head as to where this snake could’ve gone, given the relative emptiness and lack of hiding spots in the area,” Anderson said in a Dec. 10 Facebook post.

Then, things got weird.

As Anderson stood with the homeowner near the garage door, the snake fell from above.

“This snake ... landed within 3 feet of all of us, scaring the living daylights out of everyone,” he said.

“Evidently, it had been crawling along the rim of the garage door and must’ve taken a joyride up to the ceiling when the homeowner had opened it for me!”

The snake plummeted about 10 feet, Anderson said, but a photo shows it was no worse for wear when scooped into a bucket for transport to a wilderness area.

The anecdote was shared with the Arizona Snake Identification and Questions Facebook group, and has gotten hundreds of comments and reactions. Many admit they wouldn’t have handled it calmly.

“I know a lot of people who would be terrified if it started raining snakes,” Carla Boland posted.

“Guess I’m never walking into the garage without looking up now,” Olas Nich wrote.

“So even the experts can be ... rattled?” Vicki A. Small said.

Scottsdale is about a 12-mile drive northeast from Phoenix

This story was originally published December 13, 2024 at 9:51 AM with the headline "Hidden rattlesnake falls from ceiling, plops down near Arizona homeowner, trapper says."