Rattlesnake Spotted Swimming in the Waves Again at California Beach
A rattlesnake was again spotted swimming in the waves at Crystal Cove State Beach in Orange County, California, on Sunday — the third such incident there in the past month. Wildlife officials are reminding beachgoers of precautions to avoid snake bites.
New sighting at the beach
On Sunday evening, around sunset, another rattlesnake was spotted at Crystal Cove State Beach in Orange County, California, Patch reports, citing KTLA. Cristiana Salgueiro filmed the reptile and shared the footage with the television station. According to her account, the snake was moving in and out of the water as if playing in the waves.
Not the first encounter
As Patch notes, a similar incident occurred at the same beach just a month earlier: stand-up comedian and TV host Nicky Paris shared video showing a rattlesnake touching his big toe while he stood in the water. Paris described the snake as very large, saying it crawled out of the water and moved past him along the sand near his sandals.
Just a week before the latest sighting, on Friday, September 11, a rare venomous sea snake — a species seldom seen in Southern California — washed ashore at the same beach. According to CBSLA, the snake was discovered by Jackie Aguilar, whose family tried to help it get back into the water.
How to avoid rattlesnake bites
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends several precautions: stay alert outdoors, wear sturdy boots and loose long pants in brushy areas, check rocks, stumps or logs before sitting down, shake out sleeping bags and tents before use, avoid grabbing stick-like objects in the water since rattlesnakes can swim, keep dogs on a leash, and never attempt to touch or handle a snake, dead or alive.
