The premier rattlesnake wrangler in Joshua Tree National Park has opened up about navigating a desert ecosystem that was dramatically altered by an influx of new residents.
Danielle Wall, 30, works from April through October, fielding requests from people who want snakes removed from their property around the park.
And while an inundation of sun-seeking transplants has caused a boom in demand, she is all too aware of how changes are affecting the reptiles.
‘The balance is being really messed up,’ Wall told the L.A. Times.
In 2020, the pandemic saw scores of new residents flocking to the Mojave Desert, enticed by low interest rates and a desire for isolation. Investors erected new homes and converted some of them into short-term rentals, desperate to turn a profit.
Danielle Wall, 30, has earned the title of Joshua Tree’s premiere rattlesnake wrangler
Demand for her services skyrocketed when investors flocked to the Mojave Desert and erected new homes, turning some of them into short-term rentals
However, the influx of new settlers meant that the delicate ecosystem was thrown into disarray, with trash piling up and rat poison killing off bird species
Little did they know, they were moving into rattlesnake territory. As rumbling machinery sent the reptiles skittering from their burrows, Wall received more than 400 calls, marking her busiest season to date.
But the new arrivals brought more than just demand for her services – they brought problems.
Decorative plantings crowded out native species, and heaps of garbage attracted ravens, which feed on the young of endangered desert tortoises. The use of rat poison killed off birds that would usually control rodent populations.
The influx of investors also weighed heavily on longtime residents, forcing many to move out amid skyrocketing housing costs.
Home prices reached new highs during the first two years of the pandemic, with the median price rising 82 percent between March 2020 and the spring of 2022.
On average, San Bernardino County approved at least one new short-term rental permit per day in 2021 and early 2022.
Locals began to complain of standstill traffic on the few main roads surrounding the park. Grocery stores became crowded, and trash from Airbnbs and building sites was dumped in the middle of the Mojave.
‘In my opinion, it’s all a losing battle because people will never stop being so selfish,’ Wall said. ‘But I’m gonna spend my little time, my chunk of life here, just helping people, helping the snakes.’
Many longtime residents were forced to leave the area as the cost of living skyrocketed
Home prices in Joshua Tree reached new highs during the first two years of the pandemic, with the median price rising 82 percent between March 2020 and spring 2022
As the new homes were being built on rattlesnake land, Wall received more than 400 calls that season – her busiest to date
But along with the new arrivals came problems, including the dumping of trash from building sites an Airbnbs in the middle of the Mojave
‘In my opinion, it’s all a losing battle because people will never stop being so selfish,’ Wall said of the transplants
The 30-year-old is not easily shaken, but still has some fears.
‘I always tell people I’m afraid of two things: men and distracted drivers, and that’s it,’ Wall said.
She has attracted attention – and criticism – for her brand, which she describes as a crop top, booty shorts and cowboy boots.
‘I don’t even look at the DMs anymore,’ Wall told the U.S. Sun.
‘People constantly ask me when I’m going to have an OnlyFans. The joke is that it would be Only Fangs – just me, boobs and snakes. But that’s never going to happen.’
The 30-year-old also lashed out at her critics in a Facebook post.
‘The irony of men (and even a few women) in the snake field coming after me for freehandling, calling me ALL the names….when they have multiple venomous snake bites on their record,’ she wrote.
‘I’m well aware of what could happen. But please, “protect me from myself”, call me stupid – just fuels the fire. Haters are simply that…folks behind a screen.’
However, this hate has often escalated to death threats and stalking. Wall shares her location with relatives and friends before leaving for a call, fearing someone might be using a ruse to draw her into the desert.
The 30-year-old discovered her passion for snakes after nearly running one over in 2018
Wall’s first snake relocation was performed using a stick and a bucket. She later dropped out of college and quit her day job as a lingerie model to volunteer her time to helping snakes
Wall is not allowed to operate as a business under California law and supports herself by renting out a home on her property
Wall’s life changed when she nearly ran over a rattlesnake in 2018 and became obsessed with saving them.
She learned there was no local 24/7 service to relocate the reptiles, as animal control usually opted to kill them on-site.
Just a few days after her fateful encounter, Wall saw a Facebook post by a woman who wanted a rattlesnake removed from her property.
‘So I commented, «I got a stick and a bucket, can I try?»‘ Wall said.
The relocation was successful – and just like that, she’d discovered her passion. Wall dropped out of college to take more calls. After her third season, she quit her day job as a lingerie model to pursue snake wrangling full-time.
Today, Wall works strictly as a volunteer and has no desire for publicity. She refuses to monetize her Instagram account, which boats a 100,000-strong following.
But it has proven difficult to make a living. Wall is not allowed to operate as a business under state law and lacks nonprofit status, meaning donations aren’t tax deductible.
In a May 3 Facebook post, Wall announced that she would be holding a ‘birthday fundraiser,’ which she does each year.
‘Gas and truck expenses over 8 months of snake wrangling adds up! Snake season #7, year 6, never charged a dime!’ she wrote.
Over a season, she’ll typically foot the bill for her own expenses, ranging anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000.
Wall supports herself by renting out a house on her property and taking cleaning jobs every so often. This allows her to continue volunteering her time to the community.
She appears as a guest speaker at local elementary schools, youth clubs and events, with one goal in mind: to change the way people perceive snakes.
‘I think snakes are nice and just misunderstood, and it sucks to be misunderstood,’ Wall said.
