Ventura County woman dies after rattlesnake bite during hike

A Ventura County woman has died from a rattlesnake bite she suffered while hiking at Wildwood Regional Park, authorities said Wednesday.

The recent fatality marks the second rattlesnake-related death in California this month. Experts say record-breaking heat has made the snakes active earlier than usual.

Southern California is a hiker’s paradise, but out on the trails, you’re rarely alone. The Southern Pacific rattlesnake is “right at home in the cracks and crevices of the great outdoors,” said local hiker Croy Tan.

“Technically, this is where they are. This is their place, you know what I mean,” he added.

On March 14, the Ventura County Fire Department said a 46-year-old woman was bitten by a rattlesnake at Wildwood Regional Park. She was airlifted to a hospital, where she died five days later.

The incident comes just two weeks after an Orange County man died from a rattlesnake bite he suffered while biking on the Quail Hill Trail in Irvine.

Dr. William Hayes, a biology professor at Loma Linda University who has studied rattlesnakes extensively, said peak mating season is usually in April and May.

Video captured at the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge shows a squirrel throwing debris to ward off a rattlesnake.

“We’re certainly seeing them early this year. It’s warm weather. These are creatures that respond to environmental cues, temperatures very prominent in regulating their behavior,” Hayes said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 7,000 and 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S. each year, with typically five deaths.

“Rattlesnake deaths are extremely rare. I mean, your odds of surviving are like 999 out of 1,000,” Hayes said.

However, he stressed that it is critical to get antivenom treatment as soon as possible after a bite.

“If you don’t get the antivenom immediately, you are at risk of severe tissue injury. You could lose a digit. You could have a joint freeze-up. You could injure your kidneys, perhaps permanently,” Hayes said.

Tan remembered his own close encounter with a rattlesnake during a Wednesday afternoon hike.

“It was like 3 or 4 o’clock. It was a baby rattlesnake. It just crossed the trail. It was nice, it was cute,” he said.

Hayes offered guidance for hikers who encounter snakes. “Moving away quickly would be a good idea. They’re not going to chase us. They’re not coming after us. Their first response is often to freeze and hope that we do not see them.”

He added that rattlesnakes are an important part of the ecosystem but will attack if they feel threatened.

Experts recommend hikers: