Snake Hunters in Arizona: The Unbelievable Hobby We Can't Understand

Jaren Martineau and his friends look for creatures that give people nightmares. And just like bad dreams, they are most common at night.

GILA COUNTY, Ariz. — As the clock strikes 7:34 p.m. on a Saturday, we arrive at a concealed desert location in Gila County. The area is a dirt parking lot encircled by rocky hills.

Jaren Martineau is fiercely protective of this scarcely traveled route. He fears crowds and reptile poachers might ruin its sanctity.

Accompanying him are two childhood friends. Jason Tenney sports shorts and flip-flops, attire that belies their nocturnal mission.

We climb into Tenney’s truck and venture down the road as the desert night envelops us.

Their goal? To find creatures that haunt nightmares, predominantly active at night.

“We are herping right now,” Tenney mentions.

Nighttime is essential for those aiming to find snakes and tarantulas in the Arizona desert.

Martineau and his friends identify as “herpers,” and their activity, “herping,” involves searching for reptiles and amphibians.

Martineau, a lawyer by profession, has been herping since childhood after catching his first lizard.

“I wanted some snakes, but mom was not going to have any of it,” Martineau recalls growing up.

After turning 18, he discovered the secret to finding snakes was simple: a car, the right location, and the right conditions.

“Nighttime during the summer monsoon is the best period to find most reptiles and amphibians,” says Martineau.

Our first find of the night is a baby Mohave rattlesnake, initially mistaken for a stick.

“This time of year is when the babies are born,” Martineau explains as he skillfully uses his snake hook.

Desert roads pose risks for snakes, often ending up as roadkill, which Martineau terms “DORs” or “dead on the roadway.”

Their Facebook group, “ARIZONA Reptiles and Amphibians – Herping, Community, Observations,” has 2,600 members.

“Some groups were less welcoming to newcomers,” Martineau says. “I started mine to ease people into the hobby.”

Martineau also documents his herping trips on his YouTube channel, “Sonoran Herping Adventures.”

The night proves fruitful, uncovering a Sonoran gopher snake a mile down the road.

Trouble looms as headlights approach, but Tenney swiftly clears the path.

The non-venomous gopher snake, roughly 2 feet long, can extend up to 7 feet and primarily feeds on rodents.

A second gopher snake shows signs of a prior attack but exhibits no interest in water and quickly slithers away.

“Most snakes prefer escape over confrontation,” says Martineau.

The adventure continues with more sightings, including an Arizona black rattlesnake, a venomous species Martineau respects deeply.

“It’s one of our more beautiful rattlesnakes,” Martineau says.

In a 3.5-hour span, they discover multiple rattlesnake species, gopher snakes, a toad, skunks, a coyote pup, and a tarantula.

Herping, surprisingly accessible and cost-effective, requires optimal conditions and caution.

Martineau advises finding less trafficked desert roads and prefers night outings when temperatures range between 75 to 85 degrees.

The spring and monsoon seasons are prime times for herping. Night excursions, especially on moonless nights, improve chances of sightings.

Safety is paramount. “Use a bright flashlight and be aware of your surroundings,” Martineau cautions, adding, “Especially if you’re in flip-flops.”