L.A. County Boy Has Close Encounter With Rattlesnake on Doorstep

A young boy walked out his front door and found a giant rattlesnake waiting on his step.

Nine-year-old Jackson Gubernat escaped safely after his father and a neighbor moved the four-foot snake back into the wild.

Lede

Imagine opening your front door to start your day, only to find a deadly predator looking back at you.

That is the nightmare one California family just lived through.

What Happened

Nine-year-old Jackson Gubernat stepped out of his Diamond Bar home on Tuesday.

He immediately saw a four-foot rattlesnake right next to the doorstep.

The boy screamed for help.

His father, Johnny, yelled at him to run to the garage.

A neighbor helped catch the snake using a tool and a bin.

They set the snake free on a hill behind the house so it could go back to nature.

What the Evidence Shows

• 1 four-foot snake found on a front porch
• 77 snake bites reported in the state this year
• 2 deaths from rattlesnake bites in Southern California recently
• 7 snake bites in Ventura County so far this year
• 1 baby snake found by the same family 10 years ago

The Bigger Question

As our towns grow, we build homes closer to where wild animals live.

How do we keep our kids safe while still respecting the natural world around us?

The Other Side

Many people think the safest move is to kill any deadly snake near a home.

But the family chose to save the snake because it helps control rats and mice.

This shows a kind way to handle danger, even if some neighbors might worry the snake will return.

What Happens Now

An early heat wave is bringing more snakes out of hiding.

If you get bitten, call 911 fast and do not try to suck the venom out.

Keep your yard clean and watch your step when walking outside.

What We Still Don't Know

• Will the hot summer bring a record number of snakes to local yards?
• Are local hospitals fully stocked with the medicine needed to treat bites?
• Will this same snake find its way back down the hill?