News
Sports
ENLARGE
As warm weather lures fearsome creatures out from beneath old boards and into the sun, panicked humans reach for shovels to slice their slithering discoveries.
Or, they could reach for the phone and call Ramirez Rattlesnake Removal.
Len Ramirez, owner of the Auburn company, has been capturing and safely relocating snakes around California for 23 years.
Ramirez's company is the only licensed, bonded and insured rattlesnake removal service in the state. With the help of his brother, Bruce Ramirez, he can protect the families — and the snakes — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, responding to any calls, anywhere.
“We're all about public safety, and we like to educate people on rattlesnakes and their habitat,” said Ramirez. “We promote all living things, and we want to show people how snakes and humans can co-exist,” he added.
His company website, www.RamirezRattlesnakeRemoval.com, offers information about the reptiles and statistics about accidents involving rattlesnakes. In the United States, humans experience about 8,000 bites from venomous snakes each year; 12 of those bites result in death.
The educational website also displays a photo gallery of nonpoisonous snakes that are commonly found during the dry season. Gopher snakes are often mistaken for rattlesnakes said Ramirez. Although the two species have similar markings, the gopher snake is “slimmer” and does not have a rattle at the end of its tail.
A typical day for the Ramirez brothers includes preparing for the unexpected.
“I can get a call in the middle of the night from a home that wants a rattlesnake removed,” said Ramirez. “I don't know what I'm going to face. It makes it kind of exciting for me.”
Ramirez discovered his love for the environment when he was eight years old. He would practice archery, recycle bottles, watch nature channels on television and fish at creeks behind his house.
The rattlesnake wrangler learned about snakes from his own experiences when he started to develop a special interest for wildlife at 14. Ramirez also kept snakes as pets throughout his adolescence.
“You can't buy or read this type of experience. You have to go out and see for yourself,” he explained.
Even with 23 years of experience, Ramirez is always faced with challenging situations, including squeezing through tight spaces to capture a snake while trying to keep the territorial varmint from biting his face.
“I'm always willing to crawl under a house and remove a live snake,” he said.
His passion for all kinds of snakes eventually took his name to television broadcast circles.
Ramirez may be recognized by some people who watch the National Geographic Channel: He was featured in “United Snakes of America” in 2001 and “Animal Extractors” in 2006. Ramirez appeared in 13 episodes of “Animal Extractors,” which occasionally airs on television.
He also starred in a 2008 episode of “L.A. Ink,” when he had his company logo tattooed on his shoulder by famous tattoo artist Corey Miller. In 2009, he appeared on “Jesse James is a Dead Man.”
At 52, the minor National Geographic sensation doesn't plan to put down his snake tongs anytime soon, he said.
“I like to keep it going one snake at a time,” he joked. “I can't think about (retirement) since snake season is now starting. It's just so far away.”
Ramirez would like to thank all of his customers and his future customers for giving him the opportunity to do what he loves to do.
Gabriella Carcamo is an intern with The Union. contact her at ncpcintern@swiftcom.com or (530) 477-4811.
Or, they could reach for the phone and call Ramirez Rattlesnake Removal.
Len Ramirez, owner of the Auburn company, has been capturing and safely relocating snakes around California for 23 years.
Ramirez's company is the only licensed, bonded and insured rattlesnake removal service in the state. With the help of his brother, Bruce Ramirez, he can protect the families — and the snakes — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, responding to any calls, anywhere.
“We're all about public safety, and we like to educate people on rattlesnakes and their habitat,” said Ramirez. “We promote all living things, and we want to show people how snakes and humans can co-exist,” he added.
His company website, www.RamirezRattlesnakeRemoval.com, offers information about the reptiles and statistics about accidents involving rattlesnakes. In the United States, humans experience about 8,000 bites from venomous snakes each year; 12 of those bites result in death.
The educational website also displays a photo gallery of nonpoisonous snakes that are commonly found during the dry season. Gopher snakes are often mistaken for rattlesnakes said Ramirez. Although the two species have similar markings, the gopher snake is “slimmer” and does not have a rattle at the end of its tail.
A typical day for the Ramirez brothers includes preparing for the unexpected.
“I can get a call in the middle of the night from a home that wants a rattlesnake removed,” said Ramirez. “I don't know what I'm going to face. It makes it kind of exciting for me.”
Ramirez discovered his love for the environment when he was eight years old. He would practice archery, recycle bottles, watch nature channels on television and fish at creeks behind his house.
The rattlesnake wrangler learned about snakes from his own experiences when he started to develop a special interest for wildlife at 14. Ramirez also kept snakes as pets throughout his adolescence.
“You can't buy or read this type of experience. You have to go out and see for yourself,” he explained.
Even with 23 years of experience, Ramirez is always faced with challenging situations, including squeezing through tight spaces to capture a snake while trying to keep the territorial varmint from biting his face.
“I'm always willing to crawl under a house and remove a live snake,” he said.
His passion for all kinds of snakes eventually took his name to television broadcast circles.
Ramirez may be recognized by some people who watch the National Geographic Channel: He was featured in “United Snakes of America” in 2001 and “Animal Extractors” in 2006. Ramirez appeared in 13 episodes of “Animal Extractors,” which occasionally airs on television.
He also starred in a 2008 episode of “L.A. Ink,” when he had his company logo tattooed on his shoulder by famous tattoo artist Corey Miller. In 2009, he appeared on “Jesse James is a Dead Man.”
At 52, the minor National Geographic sensation doesn't plan to put down his snake tongs anytime soon, he said.
“I like to keep it going one snake at a time,” he joked. “I can't think about (retirement) since snake season is now starting. It's just so far away.”
Ramirez would like to thank all of his customers and his future customers for giving him the opportunity to do what he loves to do.
Gabriella Carcamo is an intern with The Union. contact her at ncpcintern@swiftcom.com or (530) 477-4811.
How to avoid rattlesnakes
Rattlesnake wrangler Len Ramirez offers these tips on how people can keep their families and pets safe from snakes this summer:
• If you have a dog run, be sure to run quarter-inch mesh around the bottom. • Make sure garage doors and any other entrances are properly sealed. • Cut grass and weeds in your yards and reduce or clean clutter (wood piles, boards, old car parts, overgrown bushes, etc.) that is on your property. • Even though everyone has their own landscaping style, be sure to space out your decorations, plants and trees. |
