Rattlesnake Discovered in Kids' Toys

The sighting comes after a string of lethal bites across the southland.

August 8, 2026 · Calabasas

A Calabasas family got an unwelcome surprise last week, when a rattlesnake was discovered camouflaged among children's toys in their backyard.

The snake was spotted Friday by homeowner Hugo Will, a Los Angeles-based cinematographer, who said the reptile had blended into the grass in his kids' play area. His children were not home at the time.

[L.A. County firefighters responded around 6 p.m.](https://ktla.com/news/local-news/rattlesnake-found-hiding-in-kids-toys-in-l-a-county-backyard-video-shows/), capturing the wriggling snake with a grabber tool. Will posted footage of the removal to Instagram, writing that the encounter could have ended very badly and urging locals to stay alert.

A [string of snake bites](https://abc7.com/post/ventura-county-sees-7th-reported-rattlesnake-bite-march/19013820/) hit the west Valley earlier this year, one of which resulted in the [death of a Thousand Oaks woman](https://ktla.com/news/ventura-county/woman-46-killed-by-rattlesnake-bite-on-ventura-county-hiking-trail/) in March.