Learn to remove a rattlesnake.
Safely.
A hands-on, 4-hour course in Santa Clarita. Learn your local snakes, venom and bite response — then practice real removal technique with the right tools, taught by the crew behind 1,300+ local rattlesnake removals.
Tuition
per seat
- 4 hours, hands-on
- 20 seats per class
- Certificate of completion
- No experience needed
Waitlist open — no payment now.
What you’ll learn
- Local species & identification — tell the Southern Pacific rattlesnake from the harmless look-alikes in seconds.
- Venom, explained — the different types of venom and what each one does to the body.
- What to do — and what not to do — the right steps after an encounter or a bite, and the “remedies” that make it worse.
- Hands-on removal technique — tongs, tweezers and the bucket-and-lid method, practiced until it’s automatic.
- The right tools — exactly which tongs, buckets and lids to own. All gear is available to buy at class.
The part most people get wrong
Where removals go wrong.
Two tools stand between your hands and the snake — and that’s where most of your hands-on time goes.
The tongs
- Cheap tongs break. They can snap or jam mid-catch.
- Big snakes overwhelm. The wrong tongs or grip can’t control a heavy snake.
- Small snakes slip through. Juveniles call for 18″ tweezers instead.
- Ribs break easily. Too much pressure injures the snake — control is a practiced skill.
The bucket
- The wrong bucket. It needs depth and a proper locking lid — not one that needs a hand on top.
- Lid on, lid off. A technique that keeps your fingers clear of the opening, every time.
- The transfer. Tongs to bucket in one controlled motion, your hand never over the opening.
Safe by design: our instructors handle every live rattlesnake. Your hands-on practice is with non-venomous native snakes and practice tools — real technique, none of the unnecessary risk.
The curriculum
How the four hours run.
Doors 8:45 AM · class approx. 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM · 10-minute break between modules.
Module A — Know the snake 2 hr 30 min
- 01Biology & identification35 min
Local species, look-alikes, and the myths worth dropping early.
- 02Venom, explained25 min
The types of venom, what each does, and why hospital treatment is what matters.
- 03Avoidance & property safety25 min
Where snakes hide, how to read a trail, and when to simply walk away.
- 04Bites: what to do15 min
The short list of correct steps — and the home remedies to skip.
- 05Live behavior demonstration30 min
Defensive posture, strike range and rattling, explained in real time.
- 06Tools of the trade20 min
Tongs and 18″ tweezers, buckets and locking lids — and why never hooks.
Module B — In the field 2 hr 10 min
- 07Meet the locals30 min
Hands-on time with native, non-venomous species: gopher snakes, king snakes, rosy boas.
- 08Hands-on stations60 min
Rotating practice: tong control, tweezer control, bucket-and-lid drills, real-world scenarios.
- 09Live catch & contain25 min
Our lead instructor runs a full rattlesnake catch, transfer into the bucket, and lid-on — narrated step by step.
- 10Certificates & gear15 min
Certificates handed out, questions answered, and the right tools available to buy.
Taught by the people Santa Clarita calls
rattlesnakes removed from Santa Clarita homes by Cary Quashen
recommended by Los Angeles Fire Department officials
handling rattlesnakes — plus Scott Quashen, snake safety officer for film & TV
Featured in The Signal · KTLA · New York Post · CBS LA · KHTS — meet Cary →
Good questions
No. Our instructors handle every live rattlesnake. You practice on non-venomous native snakes and practice tools.
None. The class starts from zero, and every hands-on station is supervised by an instructor.
Yes — the tongs, tweezers, buckets and locking lids we teach with are available right after class.
Yes. Landscaping crews, realtors, HOAs and hiking groups are welcome — note your group size on the waitlist form.
We’re not scheduling yet. Waitlist members hear first and get first pick of seats.
Closed-toe shoes, sun protection and water. Everything used in class is provided.
Join the waitlist
20 seats per class. Waitlist members get first pick before the class is announced publicly.
Questions? Call or text (661) 658-1774
30035 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
Have a dog? See our rattlesnake avoidance training for dogs →
Reserve your spot
$129 per seat when booking opens. No payment now.
We’ll reach out the moment seats open.
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