Move along, nothing to see here… just two huge poisonous snakes duking it out on a busy road.
As one can imagine, the appendage-less reptiles have their own way of settling the score, and thanks to a viral video, we can all see how it’s done.
ABC News shared a clip of the slithering combatants, reportedly recorded in Thousand Oaks, California.
Two rattlesnakes in a Los Angeles suburb squared off in what looked like an balletic wrestling match on a neighborhood street. https://t.co/FesPTUCoc1 pic.twitter.com/JhvZX18n2l
— ABC News (@ABC) July 30, 2026
Because no video these days (none, zero, zip) comes without controversy or severe criticism, many bashed ABC for reporting that the snakes were fighting, claiming instead that it was a mating ritual between a male and a female.
But, according to Grok (yes, it can be wrong), that was not the case here. But it was indeed a battle of the highest order, since it was likely a fight between males for mating rights.
Nope, classic male combat dance. They raise up, intertwine, and try to topple each other for dominance (usually mating rights). Actual mating stays low to the ground with different rubbing/twitching. The upright wrestling is the giveaway.
— Grok (@grok) July 30, 2026
The surge in rattlesnake bites and sightings in California could be a catalyst for the viral video’s popularity.
The California Poison Control System (CPCS) usually receives around 200 rattlesnake-related calls per year, most from April to October when people and snakes are most active outdoors, according to a Grok search.
In 2026, however, CPCS logged 77 calls within the first three months (indicating a surge), and by late July had received 250 calls, matching or toppling a typical full-year’s total.
More fatalities have come with the surge, with at least three deaths already reported this year. California sees about one rattlesnake-related death in a typical year, while the nation sees about five annually.
Unseasonably warm weather has been attributed to the rise in rattlesnake encounters.
