Speaker Series special community event on rattlesnake safety draws crowd–watch the recorded presentation

Published by Anne Russell on 07/16/2026

Dana Stangel, executive director of Teranga Ranch, and John Noble, Conejo Open Space Foundation board member and rattlesnake relocator, addressed an enthusiastic and inquisitive crowd of about 80 people June 3. During “Living with Rattlesnakes: What Ventura County Residents Need to Know” the pair focused on dispelling myths, explaining typical rattlesnake behaviors, exploring the impacts of climate change on snakes, and how open space visitors can enjoy the trails safely.

The Southern Pacific rattlesnake (the only species of rattlesnake found in Ventura County) has made headlines this spring due to encounters with hikers and bikers that resulted in bites—two of them fatal. Stangel and Noble discussed how the unseasonably warm spring weather spurred the same response from rattlesnakes and humans alike—get out and enjoy the the trails!

With spring weather trending warmer each year, these early season snake sightings are likely to continue, so knowing how to co-exist with snakes is critical. Taking simple steps like staying on the trail, keeping pets leashed, avoiding nighttime walks after hot days, and giving snakes plenty of space to move away can all go a long way toward avoiding a negative encounter.

For those neighbors with homes that back onto open space, taking steps such as removing wood and rock piles, keeping water sources like pet bowls inside, and discouraging rodents by cleaning up birdseed, fallen fruit, and pet food can make your yard less appealing to rattlesnakes. If a rattlesnake does find its way into your yard, contact a relocator who can remove the snake safely to an appropriate location.

Ultimately, rattlesnakes play a pivotal role in our local ecosystem by controlling rodent populations and serving as food for other species such raptors and king snakes. Mitigating negative interactions with rattlesnakes is the best defense, but if a bite does occur, stay calm, call 911, make your way back to the trailhead and don’t use a tourniquet, try to cut the wound, or suck out the venom.  If a pet is bitten, contact your vet immediately.

Resources

You can watch the recorded presentation, as well as other past Speaker Series events, on the COSF YouTube channel.

For more information on Teranga Ranch please visit their website: https://www.terangaranch.org/. To find a relocator near you, visit https://www.freesnakerelocation.com/ .