Skip to Content
You can tread on me...

Central Ave. Btwn Alameda Ave. & 1st St. ~ Downtown Los Angeles

We asked a tough-looking hombre downtown what he had in his 4:20-scrawled cage and he said "a rock." After a few seconds taking us in, he reached around his neck and pulled this 4-year old rattlesnake from under his rear collar. The man said his pet still has his fangs, but has never bitten him since being found as a baby, and even urged the creature to take a slither through our hands for a minute. He warned us not to be alarmed if the little guy placed his teeth on us, promising they wouldn't hurt...too badly. Sure enough, he was right and we took our chances holding California's only species of venomous snake.

Whether we were dealing with an urban brujo or just one bad mutherfucker wasn't clear, but the Dog Whisperer suddenly looked pretty weak in our eyes. We wish him luck as the lil' fella gets on in years and grows...

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Sunday Taquitos #5: Out Of Business

Sunday Taquitos! Art by Ivan Ehlers.

December 7, 2025

DAILY MEMO: Border Patrol In Disguise Try to Hire Day Laborers to Kidnap Them

Border Patrol raided five Home Depots, chased a man into a bus, and a flower vendor into a gas station, who were among at least 13 people kidnapped around the Southland, with most of the focus in Orange County today.

December 5, 2025

No Sign, No Menu, and Alcohol-Free: Inside Downtown L.A.’s Hidden Tea Speakeasy

This tea bar quietly opened in May this year, quietly carving out a hidden third space for the tea-obsessed and the sober-curious alike.

December 5, 2025

CBP Briefly Detains U.S. Citizen While at His Construction Job in Baldwin Park

"They told me that they dropped me back off, but no, they just dropped me off somewhere random,” the man explains, after being interrogated inside of a vehicle.

December 5, 2025

Weekend Eats: Free Bison Barbacoa ‘Tacos For Toys’ At Evil Cooks

Meanwhile, one of L.A.'s best Thai spot comes west, a Swahili food business arises in South L.A., and a chocolate vending machine graces West Hollywood.

December 5, 2025

Daily Memo: Over 20 Kidnapped by ICE and CBP, Including Another U.S. Citizen, Amid Escalating Southern California Raids

More than 30 people were confirmed to have been detained in the last couple of days, including 3 U.S. citizens.

December 4, 2025
See all posts