A San Diego man grabbed a rattlesnake with his bare left hand near Meade and Fairmount in City Heights after it nearly struck his 1-year-old pit bull, according to 10News.
Here's what to know
Twenty-nine-year-old Albert Mond, who is homeless, said 911 wouldn't send help unless someone had been injured, so he stayed with the captured rattlesnake overnight after sealing it inside a crate from a nearby CVS.
He told 10News that the encounter began when the snake lunged and his dog jumped several feet into the air. Using a branch, he pinned the reptile, picked it up, and carried it to the store. Mond said employees gave him the crate, which he taped shut.
10News reporter Michael Chen reached out to snake wranglers after Mond contacted him. Jared Roussel responded to remove the reptile and said it was an older rattlesnake, about 3.5 feet long, and looked "real skinny, dehydrated."
That stretch of City Heights borders canyon habitat. Hoodline noted San Diego Canyonlands said the nearby City Heights Canyons Loop can serve as a pathway for rattlesnakes to reach sidewalks and backyards in hot weather when they are seeking water.
More background
When homes, roads, and businesses push up against wild corridors, animals searching for food, water, or shelter may come into contact with people.
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In Southern California, the danger can be especially pronounced during warm months. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says nearly 90% of venomous snakebites happen between April and October, per Hoodline.
Pets can face an even greater risk because they may investigate hidden wildlife. Snake School for Dogs says pets are bitten by rattlesnakes at roughly 20 times the human rate, the outlet reported. In severe cases, treatment can be expensive, with costs reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars.
What can be done?
Roussel advised people to keep their distance, watch from afar, and call a snake wrangler.
Guidance from the City of San Diego states to stay at least six feet away, keep the snake in sight, and contact animal control, as Hoodline noted. It also reported that for immediate threats involving people or pets, the San Diego Humane Society runs a Humane Law Enforcement dispatch line, 619-299-7012.
Beyond the safety risk, moving wildlife can violate state law. California Fish and Game Code Section 2118 and CDFW guidelines prohibit the unauthorized relocation of captured wildlife, and KPBS has reported that relocated reptiles can face mortality rates approaching 90%, according to Hoodline.
Before relocating the rattlesnake, Roussel said he planned to hydrate it.
Where can I learn more?
These stories look at rattlesnake bites, close calls, and safety warnings.
• After a California hike, a husky mix needed two vials of antivenom for a rattlesnake bite.
• In Santa Clarita, a preschooler spotted a venomous rattlesnake inside playground equipment.
• In California, researchers found adult rattlesnakes deliver more dangerous bites than juveniles.
• In one Arizona town, officials warned residents after a fifth rattlesnake attack.
• Just outside a family home, a large timber rattlesnake blocked the only exit.
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