Angry Rattlesnake Leaves California Snake Catcher's Tongs Drenched in Venom

An aggressive rattlesnake left a snake catcher's tongs covered in venom after it was found in a woodpile in a California home.

Footage of the incident has been shared by So-Cal Rattlesnake Removal on Facebook. In it, the poisonous snake can be seen lashing out at the snake catcher's tongs, leaving a streak of venom across its surface.

"You can literally see the venom on my tongs," So-Cal Rattlesnake Removal said in the post. "Incredible."

"A customer saw the snake go into a large pile of wood, so when I arrived I started removing all the wood," Alex Trajo, from So-Cal Rattlesnake Removal, told Newsweek. "Eventually I found the snake and was able to get it out quickly."

The Southern Pacific rattlesnake is one of the deadliest snake species in North America. They can grow to be over four feet long and are found all along the southwest coast, from California down to northern Mexico.

"These southern pacific rattlesnakes are very common here," Trajo said. "[They] are most active early [in the] morning and evening/night time on hot summer days."

Populations of the Southern Pacific rattlesnake are thriving across the southwest, thanks to warmer temperatures in the area. As global temperatures continue to rise, these snakes are likely to become even more common.

The venom of the Southern Pacific rattlesnake varies by location. A study in 2014 compared the venom of the species in different habitats and found a marked difference between the specimens.

Snakes in the desert of Phelan, California, and Catalina Island release a hemotoxin that breaks down the walls of blood vessels and prevents the leaking blood from clotting. By contrast, snakes in Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains, just a two hour drive from Phelan, release a potent neurotoxin, which causes paralysis.

This makes it very difficult to develop targeted antivenoms for the species.

Generally, rattlesnakes avoid contact with humans.

However, more than 300 people are bitten by rattlesnakes every year in California alone, the California Poison Control System has estimated. A bite from these snakes produces painful swelling, bruising, excessive bleeding, tissue damage, and can occasionally be fatal.

When alarmed, the rattlesnake shakes its tail back and forth as a warning to potential predators. The "rattle" is made up of hard tail segments, called buttons, which knock together to create the distinctive buzz.

Each time they molt, new buttons are added. "A large one with 10 plus buttons can be pretty loud," Trajo said. "Similar to a broken water spout."

Encounters with rattlesnakes are not uncommon and should be treated with caution.

"Do not attempt to mess with or handle the snake," Trajo said. "Please call a professional."