Apparently, rattlesnakes are one of the concerns of the Swiss national team as it readies to compete in the World Cup in San Diego. At least that seems to be the case, because a team post that included a map of their training base, along with a warning about the rattlers, has gone viral.
The Swiss team is alerting players and supporters that an area outside their World Cup training facility in Carmel Valley is off-limits due to snakes. In a post on Instagram, the goalkeeper area, training pitch, dressing area, gym area, and, marked in ominous red stripes, a “snake area” in the nearby canyon and brush are all depicted in a rendering of the team’s training facility at the San Diego Jewish Academy.
The post is captioned, “Watch out for the snakes.”
According to Fox 5 News in San Diego, the area does have a lot of rattlesnakes. San Diego County reports that they are primarily found in rural or canyon regions during the warmer months. Switzerland, on the other hand, has poisonous vipers but no wild rattlesnakes.
The San Diego Natural Museum says about rattlesnakes in the area: “In the wilderness, crossing paths with a rattlesnake can be a very memorable experience. Few sounds stick in the memory quite like the buzz of a rattler.” One can only imagine.
On the plus side, the museum also added, “Thankfully, rattlesnakes do not like being discovered by people. They are sensitive, fearful creatures that only hang around our properties for a good reason. Yes, they can be deadly, but they don’t have to be dangerous.”
Also, “Remember, rattlesnakes are fearful animals that only strike at humans in defense. They do not ‘attack’ people.”
Many people got a kick out of the Swiss national team issuing a snake warning
“Do you guys not have dangerous wildlife in Switzerland?” one person asked.
“Have to be quick on your feet!” someone else suggested.
“They also have bobcats and mountain lions there,” read another comment.
“Meanwhile, the Australian team is loving the decrease in snakes,” another fan joked.