Quail Protects Eggs from Snake in Arizona Video: Watch

• keep distance: Back away slowly and maintain a safe distance from the snake. Give him plenty of freedom to move around without feeling threatened.
• Keep pets and children safe: Make sure pets and children are safely away from the snake. Keep them under close supervision.
• Don't try to catch or kill: Handling the snake could result in a bite. “The vast majority of snake bites in Arizona involve what we call an illegitimate bite because we want to suggest that the snake did not attack you and you did not engage in any behavior that caused this reaction,” Sullivan said . “So a legitimate bite would be, I'm innocently walking down the path and the snakes hide behind the bush and bite me on the leg as I walk past. We call that a legitimate bite.”
• Contact a professional: Don't try to handle the situation alone. Call a professional snake removal service, pest control company or your local animal control agency.
• Keep an eye on the snake: While you wait for the professionals to arrive, keep an eye on the snake's location from a safe distance. This ensures that it doesn't slip and become difficult to find.

Arizona Republic reporter Tiffany Acosta contributed to this article.