Before you hide those Easter eggs, think like a snake - and avoid putting them where a rattler might go. The Phoenix Herpetological Society points out that with the warm weather, rattlesnakes have been active in the Valley and like to hide in places where you might be tempted to hide an Easter egg for Sunday's hunt.
Debbie Gibson, vice president of the society, urges parents not to put the eggs where children will have to reach without seeing what they're reaching into. That includes under bushes, behind flower pots and rocks, and under pool toys. You should also avoid putting the eggs in damp areas, such as under bushes with drip systems, as those are especially appealing to snakes.
And if you or your little one do find a snake, walk away and don't try to move it. The society estimates that 80 to 90 percent of rattlesnake bites happen when homeowners try to deal with the snake themselves.
