I have come across rattlesnakes in the desert many times and have freaked out. I'm typically pretty calm during a crisis and have been told that I'm the epitome of "grace under pressure". This though ...
All over the world experts have noticed certain plants and trees attract snakes like crazy. Ditto for El Paso. Thanks to thick root systems, shade, moisture from watering and the presence of prey; many plants and trees are "snake friendly".
I was talking with a friend a while back about the things we were most afraid of happening to us in real life, and she told me she'd had nightmares about being bitten by a snake while sitting on the toilet.
At the time, we both laughed heartily at the thought, as horrendous as it is, because although it seemed terrifying, it also seemed unlikely to happen in real life. So, when I read this story, it was shocking.
Most of Texas, even El Paso, gets cold enough for snakes to hibernate through winter. While they snooze, gather these things to make sure they avoid your house next spring.