June 25 (UPI) -- An Arizona fire department is warning residents after a family discovered a large rattlesnake and its babies living inside a pool noodle.
The City of Buckeye Fire Department posted a warning to Facebook after a local resident had an unexpected rattlesnake encounter at their home.
The post said the pool noodles had been left leaning up against a cinder block wall for a time before a resident moved them for use in the pool.
A rattlesnake popped out of the end of one of the noodles and the resident soon discovered several young rattlesnakes living inside the noodle.
The fire department said other breeds of snakes have previously been known to lay eggs inside of pool noodles.
Greyson Getty, a reptile trapper with Rattlesnake Solutions, said snakes are attracted to cool, dark places.
"It's ungodly hot out, and snakes are just looking for somewhere to hide," Getty told KNXV-TV.
He recommended pool noodles and other toys be stored on an elevated shelf or in a closed plastic container.
"Anything that a snake or a rodent can hide under, try to eliminate it," he said. "Try to keep everything neat and tidy."
Getty said residents might also want to consider a snake fence around their property.
"Prevent their food, prevent their water and prevent them from even being able to get in," he said.