A California man got quite the surprise during his morning commute when he stumbled on a pair of massive rattlesnakes battling it out in the middle of the street.<\/p>\n
Anthony Damore was leaving for work around 10 a.m. Monday when he spotted the venomous reptiles entwined on the asphalt near a storm drain in Thousand Oaks, rearing up and twisting around each other in an eerie display of strength.<\/p>\n
Video of the bizarre showdown shows the snakes towering over one another as they grappled on the side of the road.<\/p>\n
Video shows two large snakes entwined on asphalt near a storm drain on July 28, 2026. Storyful<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was two large rattlesnakes in some kind of show of power,\u201d Damore said, adding that others told him the behavior was likely a combat dance between two rival males.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never seen a rattlesnake do this, or pair of them doing this,\u201d Damore said.<\/p>\n
The unsettling encounter comes as California is seeing a surge in rattlesnake activity this year.<\/p>\n
A coiled rattlesnake on sandy ground, with its distinctive diamond pattern visible, looking to the right. Luis \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n
Two large snakes entwined on asphalt near a storm drain. Storyful<\/p>\n
Just this week, Santa Clarita Valley resident Linda Martin was bitten on the foot while tending to her rose bushes barefoot after unknowingly disturbing a rattlesnake hidden<\/a> beneath the plants.<\/p>\n Stevenson Ranch woman bitten by rattlesnake while tending to her garden. Courtesy of Linda Martin<\/p>\n