After receiving an unexpected package, a truck driver in Southern California was shocked to discover a live rattlesnake inside, prompting him to suspect foul play.
The man immediately contacted 911 upon making the unsettling discovery last week after picking up the package at the Twentynine Palms post office, as confirmed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office Department on Wednesday.
Upon arrival, officers redirected the case to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for further investigation, stated sheriff’s office spokesperson Mara Rodriguez. Animal Control swiftly took custody of the snake.
The truck driver, identified as 60-year-old Elijah Bowles, recounted finding cotton balls inside the package, presumably placed to muffle the snake’s rattling sound, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Bowles estimated the serpent to be approximately 2 feet long.
Bowles described the shocking encounter, revealing that a friend had opened the package inside a car shortly after leaving the post office. Reacting swiftly to the startling discovery of the snake, Bowles pulled over, placed the box by the curb, and contacted 911 and Animal Control for assistance.
According to reports from the LA Times, a postal inspector noted that the package was labeled “fragile” in black marker and listed a return address in Palm Coast, Florida, though it was mailed from Hayward, California, on May 3.
Rick Boyd, the Animal Control supervisor for Twentynine Palms, identified the reptile as a Western rattlesnake, also known as the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, typically not found in Southern California but more commonly in the northern regions of the state.
Healthline advises immediate medical attention for anyone bitten by a rattlesnake, as an untreated bite can lead to fatal consequences, including organ failure and death within two to three days.