Watch Out! The Drought Has Drawn More Rattlesnakes To CA

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Bo Slyapich, known as the "rattlesnake wrangler" of Los Angeles, said he received four calls for rattlesnake removal within 15 seconds on Tuesday morning — and his phone hasn't stopped ringing since March.

"They sent me a picture, yep it's a big one, gotta go!" he told Patch in a quick phone interview. (Seriously, he's busy, we didn't want to take up much of his time).

The Golden State, now steeped in the midst of an intensifying drought, has seen a huge uptick in rattlers across its bone dry topography as temperatures continue to rise this summer — it's the kind of weather these snakes thrive in.

Between the threat of a massive wildfire season and a decreased water supply, Californians should also be wary of these venomous "nope ropes." Slyapich said he was recently called out to Canoga Park, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley, where a resident's Great Dane was killed by a rattlesnake.

"It's just an unusual year, last year was one of our quiet years," Slyapich said.

And it's not just in Southern California, another owner of a rattlesnake removal company in Napa Valley has also experienced a heightened amount of service calls.

"Rattlesnakes are becoming more common in the places where we live, work and play," Len Ramirez, owner of Ramirez Rattlesnake Removal told The Guardian. The NorCal rattlesnake catcher told the newspaper that he witnessed a similar uptick during California's last drought, which spanned from 2011 to 2019.

"I always remind parents to be a good scout before your kids go out to play," he said.

As drought conditions worsen, snakes aren't the only creatures emerging from the shadows. More bears have also been seen plodding about in unusual places within the Golden State.

"The bear population is expanding its range, so bears are showing up in areas where they've never seen before," Rebecca Barboza, a wildlife biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told ABC7 last month.

Steve Searles, a wildlife expert in Mammoth, estimated that there are roughly 35,000 black bears in California.

"They're highly adaptable and your front lawn is just salad for them," he told ABC7.

READ MORE: Black Bears Take A Dip Alongside Beachgoers In CA Lake

Bears have recently been spotted in people's backyards and even taking a dip in a lake with other beachgoers. But even if a bear seems to act friendly, a distance should still be maintained, officials warned.

"Don't feed them, don't entice them, don't provoke them and, obviously in a setting like this ... don't approach them ... respect their space," Lt. Nelson Resendes of the Placer County Sheriff's Office told KCRA of the lake sighting last month.

The influx of rattlesnakes also poses a danger to hikers, children and pets outside on dry summer days. A bite from one of these poisonous snakes can lead to severe medical problems and can even be fatal if left untreated.

Southern California is home to three types of rattlesnakes, according to the North American Field Herping Association:

• Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
• Red Diamond Rattlesnake
• Southern Pacific Rattlesnake

Here's what to do if you encounter one of these rattlers this summer, according to the organization:

• If you see a snake, stop and keep a safe distance. Give the snake room to move away on its own.
• Do not try to handle a snake. A snake will bite if provoked, so do not handle them.
• When walking or hiking, stay on trails, sidewalks and cleared pathways.
• Wear boots or closed shoes and long pants when working outdoors or walking in wooded areas.
• Wear leather gloves when handling brush and debris.
• Use a flashlight if walking at night in areas where snakes might be present.
• Keep dogs on leashes and pet cats indoors to reduce their chances of encountering a snake.
• If you find a sick or injured snake, contact the Sheriff's Department non-emergency line to be connected with Animal Control.
• If you are bitten by a snake that you believe could be venomous, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

READ MORE: Snake Safety: What To Do If You See A Rattlesnake