With snake season underway, Mission Viejo Animal Services is reminding the public to be vigilant and aware
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The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is reminding residents to be aware of snake season after recently receiving a report of a rattlesnake inside someone's tire rim.
Animal Control Officer Julie Forton arrived to find a juvenile rattlesnake coiled inside the tire rim of a resident's vehicle. She safely removed and relocated the snake to a natural area away from the public. Neither the resident nor snake were harmed. However, the start of snake season, which runs from March through October, marks a period of increased awareness and vigilance.
Snakes play a valuable role in maintaining ecological balance by regulating the rodent population. Most snakes encountered are non-venomous, while the rattlesnake is the only venomous snake native to California. Observing the shape of the snake's head, body and tail is a good way to determine if a snake is venomous. All rattlesnakes in California have a blotched pattern on the back and a rattle on the end of the tail which is often used as a warning sound. (The rattle is missing on newborn rattlesnakes and may be broken off on adults, so don't automatically assume that a snake with no rattle is not a rattlesnake.) See this flier for more information and tips for avoiding and encountering snakes.
If you encounter a rattlesnake on your property or public area, call the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center at 949-470-3045. Our officers are trained to handle and remove them safely. If a snake bites you or someone you know, call 911 immediately.
For more information about local wildlife, visit this link.