A quick-thinking child helped prevent what could have been a dangerous situation after spotting a rattlesnake inside a preschool playhouse in Saugus last week.

The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. Thursday at CBS Preschool in Santa Clarita off Centre Pointe Parkway.

Local rattlesnake wrangler Cary Quashen told KTLA that a child noticed the snake inside a play structure and immediately alerted a teacher. School staff then contacted Quashen, who responded to safely remove the rattlesnake before anyone was injured.

Video shared by Quashen showed the rattlesnake coiled on the ground inside the playhouse as he carefully captured the reptile using specialized equipment.

“Thank God it all worked out fine,” Quashen wrote in a social media post accompanying the video.

Quashen, who operates a rattlesnake removal service and dog-training program in Santa Clarita, said he responded to ensure the area was safe and that no children had been bitten. 

After removing the snake, he relocated it away from the school.

Cary Quashen

No injuries were reported.

The incident also serves as a reminder that rattlesnake activity is increasing across the Santa Clarita Valley as temperatures continue to warm.

During a March interview with KHTS, field herpetologist John Lauremann said residents should expect to see more rattlesnakes throughout the spring and summer months as warmer nighttime temperatures encourage the reptiles to become more active.

Wildlife experts advise anyone who encounters a rattlesnake to keep a safe distance, avoid attempting to handle it and contact trained wildlife professionals if removal is necessary.

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