While the sight of a rattlesnake might send some running, some brave members of a California community are learning how to catch and save them. CBS News Bay Area's Brian Hackney has the details.

California

A community in California has started a program to teach residents and security guards how to safely catch and relocate rattlesnakes. The initiative, supported by a biology professor from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, focuses on humane treatment of snakes and highlights their ecological importance, such as controlling rodent populations. 

Participants learn practical techniques for handling snakes, with an emphasis on safety and respect for wildlife. The program also addresses the risks and high medical costs associated with snake bites, aiming to reduce harm to both people and snakes while fostering a better understanding of these animals.

California residents learn to catch, save rattlesnakes

Well, if you are not a fan of snakes, here's your warning for this next story. While the sight of a rattlesnake might send most people running, some brave members of a community in California are learning how to catch and save them. Brian Hackney from CBS News Bay Area has those details. Out beyond the highways of the western deserts, past the palm trees of Palm Springs, where the desert towns sprawl over the desert itself, snakes begin to emerge from their long winter's nap, and that gets residents very rattled. This is a community that is really, really interested in wildlife and nature. Mitch Spike heads up security for the residents out here. They don't like killing animals, so I had to try to find an alternative. Oh my God, I love him. So Mitch engaged the experts. Such a mellow species of snake. Hi, nice to see you too. My name's Emily, and I'm a biology professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where this June is my 20-year anniversary. Today, she's got a classroom full of security guards. You don't need to like rattlesnakes like I do, right? You were just saying, rattlesnakes aren't your favorite, but we need to respect them, okay? And they're gonna be here, and they're gonna be here no matter what. And when they are, the first people called are the guards. They need to learn how to safely move those rattlesnakes out of the way instead of killing them. It's an ethical thing to do. That may have the nearby bighorns scratching their heads, but in a classroom at the Boyd Deep Canyon Reserve, these folks have signed up to learn how to safely snag a snake. So I'm gonna get the snake out right now, and we're just gonna get the snake out, and we're gonna catch that snake. And listen to this. That's the actual snake rattling. Isn't he handsome? I support the body a little bit like so to help get him into the bucket like that. Finesse is important. About 2,000 people a year are bitten by rattlesnakes. This was a $600,000 medical bill to a Boy Scout that was bitten by a rattlesnake. A full 150,000 of that was for the antivenom. Okay, are you ready? Who's ready? That's why they need this training. So I pick up the snake by mid-body, and I'm gonna put him into the bucket headfirst if I can't get him all the way in. Oh, he's gonna be a good training snake. Nice job. You've got him right in the good spot. It is really funny looking back how you find yourself in this niche specialty of being a venomous snake specialist. Do your best to try to get him in there. They were such fascinating animals. Oh, great adjustment. Nicely done. And also, people have learned that these animals are really important for our ecosystem. They help control rodents. The mothers give birth to live babies. And when people learn all these things about them, they don't quite see them as vermin anymore, and they wanna be able to relocate them. What I really wish people understood was that these are complicated, fascinating animals that do far more good for us than they do harm. Great adjustment. Like a pro. I love it. And that's what I'm trying to change their reputation. One snake charming class. Snake pose, there we go. At a time. Two, three. Brian Hackney, CBS News, Bay Area.

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