California is currently facing an alarming rise in rattlesnake encounters and fatalities, described by experts as historically unprecedented. In what could have been a dire situation, a vigilant preschooler in the Santa Clarita Valley potentially averted another tragedy by spotting a venomous serpent lurking in a playground installation.
This near-miss occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday at a preschool located in the Saugus area of Santa Clarita. A child noticed the dangerous snake within a playhouse and promptly informed a teacher, according to local rattlesnake expert Cary Quashen, who spoke with KTLA.
In response, the school staff reached out to Quashen, who arrived at the scene to expertly handle and remove the snake, ensuring no harm came to anyone.
Footage shared by Quashen captures the tense moment, showing the rattlesnake coiled near the playground structure as he deftly uses specialized tools to secure it.
“Thankfully, everything turned out well,” Quashen remarked in a social media post that accompanied the video clip.
Quashen, who operates a rattlesnake removal service and dog-training program in Santa Clarita, said he was called in to ensure the area was safe and that no children had been bitten.
He later relocated the snake away from the school.
No injuries were reported.
However, the incident comes amid an alarming year for rattlesnake encounters in California.
During the first three months of 2026, the state recorded 77 rattlesnake-related calls and three confirmed deaths, a dramatic increase over California’s typical annual average of zero to one fatality.
Medical directors and herpetologists with the California Poison Control System have described the 2026 figures as “highly unusual and deeply concerning.”
Experts say the early-year numbers are exceptionally high and historically unprecedented for the state.
Quashen has become known as the unofficial “snake wrangler of Santa Clarita” after years of sharing videos documenting rattlesnake removals throughout the area.
Anyone who encounters a rattlesnake should keep a safe distance, avoid any attempt to handle the animal, and contact trained wildlife professionals if removal is necessary.