Rattlesnake bite at Cal State campus marks sixth incident in Ventura County since mid-March - BERITAJA

A caller rattlesnake wound adjacent the field of Cal State Channel Islands has heightened concerns about an summation successful snake encounters successful Ventura County this year.

This incident marks the sixth reported rattlesnake wound successful the region since March 14, according to Andrew Dowd, nationalist accusation serviceman for the Ventura County Fire Department. In 2025, the region reported 9 snake bites for the year.

The latest snake wound occurred about 4 p.m. Sunday erstwhile the unfortunate was attending a gathering adjacent Cal State Channel Islands and accidentally encountered the snake, according to Dowd.

Few specifications about the unfortunate person been disclosed by authorities, including whether the personification is simply a Cal State student.

After the bite, an acquaintance quickly headed to a infirmary pinch the unfortunate and, while driving, calling 911. Paramedics coordinated pinch the brace en route, gathering adjacent the intersection of North Lewis and Las Posas roads to supply aesculapian assistance, according to Dowd.

The unfortunate sustained insignificant injuries, was transported to a adjacent infirmary listed arsenic stable. Officials do not person immoderate updates connected the patient’s existent condition.

Dowd emphasized that each rattlesnake bites reported successful Ventura County this twelvemonth person been the consequence of accidental encounters.

“This is an important reminder that we unrecorded and recreate successful rattlesnake habitat,” Dowd said. “Anytime you’re outdoors, it’s important to enactment alert and return precautions.”

Rattlesnake play is simply a misnomer successful California because they’re progressive year-round, experts say.

But they’re little progressive during the wintertime truthful you’re little apt to spot one, said Emily Taylor, who runs Central Coast Snake Services, a serpent consulting business, and directs the Physiological Ecology of Reptiles Laboratory astatine Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Still, snakes whitethorn look during a wintertime lukewarm spell to bask successful the sun, said Greg Pauly, curator of herpetology astatine the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

“As temperatures lukewarm successful the spring, we spot a melodramatic summation successful daytime aboveground activity,” Pauly said. “After eating thing aliases very small done the wintertime months, rattlesnakes are actively foraging successful the outpouring and besides looking for mates.”

Rattlesnakes do their champion slithering successful lukewarm temperatures, specifically the precocious 70s to debased 80s. Experts opportunity rattlesnakes typically don’t wound unless they consciousness threatened and usage their wound arsenic a defense mechanism.

“We had bully rains early successful the wintertime followed by unusually lukewarm weather,” Pauly said. “With bully works growth, rodent populations are doing well, truthful the snakes person bully nutrient sources and lukewarm temperatures that are triggering much aboveground activity.”

If bitten, Dowd advises snake wound victims to stay calm, limit activity to slow the dispersed of venom and telephone 911 immediately.

More information tips Dowd recommends include:

• Staying connected intelligibly marked trails and avoiding gangly writer aliases dense brushwood wherever visibility is limited.
• Avoiding placing your hands aliases feet successful areas you cannot see.
• Wearing protective apparel including hiking boots and agelong pants.