A woman hiking in Santa Barbara County was bitten by a rattlesnake Sunday, marking the latest incident in a recent increase of snake encounters across California. According to officials, firefighters had to carry the woman off the trail after she reported being bitten on the ankle. She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities said she did not have enough cell signal to call 911 but managed to send a text message to someone who then alerted emergency responders. Her condition has not been publicly released.
The incident is part of a recent string of rattlesnake bites in Southern California. Over the past six weeks, seven bites have been reported in the region, including two that resulted in death. Fatal snakebites are uncommon in the United States, where typically only about five people die from snakebites of any kind each year.
Researchers say the increase in encounters is not because the snake population has grown, but because the reptiles are appearing earlier in the season than usual. Warmer-than-normal weather in March likely caused rattlesnakes to emerge from their winter dens weeks ahead of schedule. During this time, male snakes search for mates while all snakes become more active in hunting for food.
Evidence of the early activity has shown up in call logs. A rattlesnake relocation hotline on California’s Central Coast reported receiving around 40 calls in March requesting snake removals, compared with the usual one or two calls for that time of year. California Poison Control has also recorded 77 calls related to rattlesnake bites so far this year.
Specialists emphasize that deadly bites remain rare and most encounters occur by accident. They recommend hikers stay on open trails, avoid tall grass, wear boots and long pants, and keep phones charged in case of emergency. Experts also note that rattlesnakes generally try to avoid people. When they notice humans nearby, their first reaction is typically to stay still and hope they are not seen. If they feel threatened or cornered, they may strike as a defensive response.