A massive rattlesnake was filmed on a picturesque beach in Southern California moments after a frightened swimmer said the reptile may have tickled his toes.
Comedian Nicky Paris was at the beach in Crystal Cove on August 20 enjoying the beautiful water and surrounding landscape, until his relaxing day was ruined by the frightening encounter with the reptile.
Paris was headed back to his towel when he spotted the rattlesnake slithering out of the ocean.
‘I get out of the water, and then I see the rattlesnake. It had come from the water, and I had felt something tickle my big toe,’ the comedian told ABC7.
He added that the viper crawled in between his sandals before slithering away up a nearby hill.
Thankfully, Paris was not bitten by the snake but warned that several others on the beach were on their phones and needed to be aware of their surroundings.
While jarring, a rattlesnake sighting at Crystal Cove is not exactly out of the ordinary, as several kinds of reptiles call the park home.
Not only are there rattlesnakes at the cove but actually four different species of snakes that are accustomed to the park.
Comedian Nicky Paris was at the beach in Crystal Cove on August 20, when he spotted a rattlesnake leaving the ocean
‘I get out of the water, and then I see the rattlesnake. It had come from the water, and I had felt something tickle my big toe,’ Paris told ABC7
The snake Paris encountered was likely the Southern Pacific rattler, which varies in color from brown to black and often inhabits areas near the coast at Crystal Cove
The red diamond rattlesnake, the Southern Pacific rattlesnake, gopher snake, the California king snake and several kinds of lizards can be spotted in the cove.
The snake Paris encountered was likely the Southern Pacific rattler, which varies in color from brown to black and often inhabits areas near the coast.
The Southern Pacific viper is highly venomous and grows between four to five feet long.
‘So you better be looking down while you are eating your cheese doodles at the beach,’ said Paris in another upload.
The comedian’s upload shocked several users on Instagram and gave locals the opportunity to share their experiences with rattlesnakes at the cove.
One user wrote: ‘Be lucky you didn’t get bit in the middle of nowhere. Take this as a sign to watch out for snakes at the beach and in real life.’
Another added: ‘I worked in Crystal Cove for 5 years. This was the norm in the spring. I’ve seen everything from rattlesnakes, deer, bobcats, mountain lions, and coyotes on the beach.’
A third said: ‘I frequent the trails in this area and YES there are snakes! A few different varieties but the rattlers are the ones to be cautious of. They like this weather and will often be found coiled in the shade off the trail so please keep your eyes up.’
About 83 miles away, a three-year-old girl was bitten by a Southern Pacific rattlesnake in Santa Clarita while grabbing an Amazon package.
Manuel Barajas described the ‘terrifying experience’ after his daughter, Addy, was bitten by a rattlesnake at their home in July.
Paris, a standup comedian, was not bitten by the snake but warned that several others on the beach were on their phones and needed to be aware of their surroundings
Not only are there rattlesnakes at Crystal Cove beach but actually four different species of snakes that are accustomed to the park
Barajas said his little girl noticed a package containing a gift for her and rushed outside to grab it.
‘Tragically, a Southern Pacific rattlesnake was hiding under the brown padded envelope and bit Addy’s left hand,’ the father wrote on a fundraiser page.
Addy’s mother, Lynn, immediately rushed her daughter to nearby first responders, who transported her to a hospital where she was administered antivenom.
However, Addy later needed to be transferred to a pediatric intensive care unit, where she remained for two nights and received two additional rounds of antivenom treatment.
Thankfully, the little girl has made a strong recovery. Speaking to KTLA, Barajas said: ‘She’s doing great now.’
