The sightings are part of a wave of unusual wildlife turning up along the Southern California coast
Credit: Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A rattlesnake was spotted at Crystal Cove State Beach, marking the second venomous snake sighting at the location in a month
- State park officials say it’s snake season and warn that rattlesnakes only bite if they feel threatened
- Recent unusual wildlife sightings in the area include a venomous yellow-bellied sea snake washing ashore
Beachgoers in Southern California are being reminded to watch their step after yet another rattlesnake turned up at a popular shoreline.
According to KTLA, the latest snake spotting at Crystal Cove State Beach in Orange County, Calif., occurred on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 20. Visitor Cristiano Salgueiro captured video of the snake around sunset, describing it as getting in and out of the water as if it were playing in the waves. He said he wanted to warn other beachgoers to stay alert.
It’s the second rattlesnake sighting at the same beach in about a month. In August, stand-up comedian and TV host Nicky Paris filmed a rattlesnake at Crystal Cove and shared it on Instagram, saying he felt something “tickle” his toe in the water before watching the snake crawl out of the surf, past his sandals and up into the hills.
Credit: Charlie Neuman/The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty
State park officials said it’s currently snake season and noted that rattlesnakes generally don’t bite unless they feel threatened. The venomous reptiles are common in the hills and trails around Crystal Cove, though seeing one slithering across the sand (or splashing in the waves) is a more startling sight for beachgoers.
The rattlesnake surfside spotting is part of a run of unusual wildlife appearances along the Southern California coast in recent weeks, which has also included a venomous yellow-bellied sea snake that washed ashore at Crystal Cove earlier in September.
As PEOPLE previously reported, the Southern California coast recently saw its first olive ridley sea turtle nest. On Sept. 16, someone witnessed an olive ridley sea turtle dig a nest and lay eggs on the sand near Seal Beach in Orange County. The event marks the first time in recorded history an olive ridley sea turtle has nested on a Southern California beach.
If bitten by a rattlesnake, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recommends staying calm but acting quickly: remove anything that could constrict swelling and get to the nearest medical facility.
Officials warn against applying a tourniquet, packing the area with ice, or trying to suck out the venom.
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