ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A venomous and potentially deadly snake was spotted loose in a residential area of Orange County, authorities said Tuesday.
The viper — identified as a Gaboon viper, was most recently seen near the intersection of Main Street and Edinger Avenue in Santa Ana.
According to police, the viper is believed to be roughly four to five feet long.
"Gaboon vipers are highly venomous and are not native to North America," the Santa Ana Police Department wrote in a statement. "We are asking the public to please be aware of your surroundings. If you see the snake, do not approach or attempt to handle it."
Gaboon viper are not typically found in California, as they are native to Central, East and West Africa and are commonly found on the forest floor, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
According to the institute, Gaboon vipers can grow to more than six feet in length and are known to eat small and medium-sized mammals and birds.
Although the vipers rarely attack humans, police advised residents that they can bite when stepped on.
"Gaboon vipers have a placid nature and very rarely bite humans," the Smithsonian website reads. "Most bites occur when the snake is stepped on before it has an opportunity to get away. If harassed, it will raise the upper part of its body and hiss in threat before actually striking."
It was not immediately clear how the viper ended up in Orange County.
The incident follows a recent string of snake sightings on Orange County beaches.
This month, a highly-venomous yellow-bellied sea snake was confronted by guests visiting Crystal Cove State Beach in Newport Beach.
In a news report published by CBSLA, the snake was discovered by a Jackie Aguilar, who was visiting the beach in Orange County on Friday, Sept. 11.
A video published to CBSLA showed Aguilar's family trying to help the snake, which was on the sandy shoreline, get back into the water.
According to The Los Angeles Times, the last time a yellow-bellied sea snake was spotted in Orange County waters was during the last El Niño period of 2018 through 2019.
In addition, two rattlesnakes were spotted during two separate incidents at the same beach in August and September.
If spotted, residents were urged to avoid the viper and contact the Santa Ana Police Department at 714-834-4211.
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