Crime & Safety
Another Rattlesnake Spotted Slithering To Shore At Crystal Cove Beach
The report comes a month after another rattlesnake sighting, and a week after a yellow-bellied snake was spotted on the state beach's shore.
NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Another rattlesnake was seen at a popular Orange County beach Sunday night, KTLA reported.
Cristiana Salgueiro shared video of the snake at Crystal Cove State Beach with KTLA, saying that he encountered the rattler around sunset.
According to the outlet, the rattlesnake was getting in and out of the water as if it were playing in the waves.
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The incident follows another sighting last month, when stand-up comedian and TV host Nicky Paris shared video of a rattlesnake he encountered at the state beach.
Paris said his day took a turn for the unexpected when he was standing in the water and "felt something tickle his big toe."
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"I'm not saying that it's this pervert. But one could assume. You know, it was huge," Paris said in the video. "It crawled right out of the water. Right all the way past the beach, in between my sandals, on the beach. I literally was watching it."
The most recent rattlesnake sighting comes just a week after a venomous sea snake seldom spotted in SoCal washed up on Crystal Cove shores Friday, Sept. 11.
The snake was discovered by a Jackie Aguilar, who was visiting Crystal Cove State Beach in Orange County on Friday, Sept. 11, according to CBSLA.
A video published to CBSLA showed Aguilar's family trying to help the snake, which was on the sandy shoreline, get back into the water.
RELATED: Venomous Sea Snake Slithers Onto SoCal Beach, Video Shows
While officials did not immediately confirm the snake's species, marine naturalist Capt. Chad Steffen told CBSLA that the snake looks like the highly-venomous yellow-bellied sea snake.
"They are very venomous, but they are also very clumsy and sluggish out of water," Steffan told the outlet. "They are not inclined to bite. They aren't aggressive."
According to The Los Angeles Times, the last time a yellow-bellied sea snake was spotted in Orange County waters was during the last El Niño period of 2018 through 2019.
RELATED: Watch: Rattlesnake Slithers Past Man In Surf At Crystal Cove
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, residents can take the following steps for avoiding rattlesnake bites:
- Stay alert when outdoors.
- Wear sturdy boots and loose-fitting long pants if you're in brushy areas.
- Check rocks, stumps or logs before sitting down.
- Shake out sleeping bags and tents before use.
- Do not grab "sticks" in the water, as rattlesnakes can swim.
- Do not let dogs off leash, as they are at increased risk when sniffing the ground.
- Do not try to touch or handle a snake, dead or alive.
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