A Los Angeles cinematographer discovered a venomous rattlesnake hiding among his children’s toys in a Calabasas backyard and posted video of LA County firefighters capturing it with a grabber tool. The children were not home and nobody was injured. In a related May incident, an Oroville man required 54 vials of antivenom and transfer to Stanford Hospital after two rattlesnake bites. CDFW urges vigilance around tall grass, logs and rocks and recommends keeping pets leashed near brush.
Large Rattlesnake Found Hiding Among Children’s Toys In Calabasas Backyard
The rattlesnake was hiding among the children's scattered toys.
A Calabasas family got a frightening wake-up call when a large rattlesnake was discovered hiding among their children's toys in the backyard. Los Angeles–based cinematographer Hugo Will — who has worked with director Ted Kotcheff, editor Thom Noble and director James Fargo — posted video of the encounter to Instagram after making the unsettling discovery.
LA County firefighters capturing the wriggling reptile with a grabber tool. Instagram/@hugo_willl
Los Angeles County firefighters responded at about 6 p.m. and used a long grabber tool to secure and remove the wriggling rattlesnake. Will wrote in his post that he was 'still in shock' and grateful the children were not at home, urging other parents to stay vigilant around outdoor play areas.
A Calabasas family got a terrifying wake-up call when a snake was discovered lurking right where their children play. Instagram/@hugo_willl
Related Incident: Antivenom Shortage During Severe Bite
In a separate May incident in Lake Oroville, Christopher Howarth of Idaho was bitten twice by a rattlesnake while checking a leaking pipeline at his parents' property. Oroville Hospital administered 54 vials of antivenom before exhausting its supply and transferred Howarth to Stanford Hospital, where he received a different antivenom and later stabilized.
The rattlesnake had merged into the grassy surface, making it difficult for anyone to notice it easily. Instagram/@hugo_willl
Safety Tips From California Authorities
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reminds residents to remain alert outdoors. California is home to seven rattlesnake species, and encounters can occur in suburban yards where snakes blend into vegetation and debris.
- Avoid tall grass, weeds and dense brush, and check rocks, stumps and logs before sitting down.
- Supervise children in outdoor play areas and clear yard debris where snakes can hide.
- Keep pets on leashes near vegetation and prevent them from sniffing undergrowth.
- Never attempt to handle or kill a venomous snake; even snakes that appear dead can still inject venom. Call trained professionals or local animal control for removal.
Homeowners concerned about snake activity should contact local fire or animal authorities and consider habitat-reduction measures to make yards less attractive to rattlesnakes.
Help us improve.
