Two large rattlesnakes were observed engaged in a territorial dispute on a street in Thousand Oaks, California, on July 28, 2026. The unusual encounter, captured on video by resident Anthony Damore, showed the reptiles rearing up and entwining on the asphalt. Damore described the behavior as a potential "show of power" or combat dance between two males.
This incident occurred as California grapples with an uptick in rattlesnake activity. Officials attribute the rise to an unusually warm spring, which led to snakes emerging from hibernation earlier than usual. The state is on pace to see approximately 20% more rattlesnake bites this year compared to previous averages.
One such incident involved Linda Martin, a resident of Santa Clarita Valley, who was bitten on the foot while gardening. Martin was tending to her rose bushes barefoot when she unknowingly disturbed a rattlesnake hidden beneath the plants. She reported experiencing symptoms, including tingling in her extremities and spreading numbness, within seconds of the bite.
Martin's attempt to call 911 was unsuccessful multiple times, prompting her husband to drive her to a local hospital. She received life-saving antivenom approximately 10 minutes after the bite. Martin emphasized the critical role her husband's presence played in her swift medical treatment, stating, "Had my husband not been home, and I was here alone, I don’t know what would have happened."
