That Time I Found a Snake in Apache Junction: A Wild Day with My Dogs and Mom

Living in Apache Junction, you expect to run into all sorts of critters. From scorpions to coyotes, the desert is full of surprises. But nothing quite prepared me for the day my mom called me over because she found a snake in her yard.

Now, my mom is no stranger to the local wildlife, but you’ve never seen an old lady move faster than she did when that snake made its appearance. She was out of there in a heartbeat, and I had no choice but to step up. Armed with a shovel, I went full-on “snake warrior.”

After what felt like a small battle, the snake was dead, but the real comedy was yet to come.

I have three “ferocious” dogs—Meeka, Mooka, and Max. Normally, these dogs go nuts at the sight of anything that moves, especially when I do the whole “squirrel thing,” where I hype them up for a chase. I figured a dead snake would get them riled up and ready to pounce. Boy, was I wrong!

I waved the snake on the shovel in front of them, expecting an epic moment of bravery. Instead, all three of them took one look at the snake and hightailed it in the opposite direction. I couldn’t stop laughing—my mighty protectors, the ones who would bark at the mailman like he was a personal enemy, were terrified of a snake that wasn’t even moving!

In the end, the day was saved, my mom got a good laugh (after she stopped running), and I learned that my dogs might not be the snake-hunting heroes I thought they were. It just goes to show, you never know how a day in Apache Junction will turn out!

Have you ever had an unexpected run-in with desert wildlife? I’d love to hear your stories!