Woman bitten on the ankle by a rattlesnake, seventh reported bite in Ventura County - BERITAJA

A rattlesnake nipped a female connected the ankle during a hike, successful Ventura County marking the seventh reported snake wound successful the region this year, officials say.

The female hiker was stepping connected Long Canyon Trail, a 2.35-mile-long way successful the Wood Ranch vicinity of Simi Valley, connected Thursday afternoon.

Ventura County Fire Department officials received a 911 telephone astatine 2:40 p.m. reporting that a rattlesnake spot the female connected her ankle, said Andrew Dowd, a section spokesperson.

Authorities person not released the hiker’s identity.

Firefighter paramedics were capable to entree and respond to the female some connected the crushed and from the air.

“Anytime we person a distant rescue, we besides dispatch 1 of our rescue helicopters, staffed pinch paramedics and different unit chiefs to beryllium capable to execute a distant rescue, if necessary,” he said.

The female sustained a insignificant wounded from the bite, and paramedics took her to the infirmary by helicopter, “given her location and the desire to get her to the infirmary quickly,” successful unchangeable condition, Dowd said.

Rattlesnake encounters successful Ventura County and elsewhere successful California

The latest rattlesnake wound is the seventh reported successful Ventura County complete the people of about six weeks, Dowd said.

“Year to twelvemonth comparison, we are decidedly seeing much rattlesnake bites this twelvemonth than we person successful erstwhile years,” he said.

In 2025, the region reported a full of 9 rattlesnake bites. Reports of bites person been on the emergence crossed cardinal and confederate California since March, a period up of a emblematic rattlesnake play that occurs from April done October.

Unseasonably lukewarm upwind patterns astatine the commencement of the twelvemonth signaled to the serpents that they could time off their wintertime retreats successful hunt of nutrient and mates.

The likelihood of run-ins betwixt outdoor enthusiasts and rattlesnakes person accrued arsenic group person deed the trails these past 2 months.

There person been 3 snake-related fatalities betwixt March and April. The fatal bites occurred successful Ventura, Orange and Mendocino Counties.

In March, the California Poison Control System reported 77 calls regarding rattlesnake bites successful the first 3 months of 2026. The agency has not released the latest number of calls yet.

On average, the agency receives betwixt 290 and 390 reports of rattlesnake bites annually.

A mostly of serpent encounters reported by the Times person occurred connected trails aliases successful communities that are person to nature.

The about caller fatality successful April occurred connected a agrarian spot successful the unincorporated organization of Redwood Valley successful Mendocino County. A snake spot a 78-year-old woman 3 times, and she died 2 days later successful the hospital.

Despite the uptick successful serpent bites and related deaths, a fatal rattlesnake wound remains a uncommon occurrence. About 8,000 group are bitten by venomous snakes annually, and only about 5 of the group who are bitten typically die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Ventura County, Dowd said that rattlesnake bites relationship for 1/10 aliases 1% of emergency consequence calls the section receives — a higher measurement of calls involves distant rescues connected trails owed to falls that caused traumatic injuries aliases group experiencing cardiac arrest.

Dowd said he’s not making ray of the situation. The organization should beryllium cautious erstwhile enjoying outdoor recreational areas.

“Regardless of whether we person a monolithic statistical displacement successful the number by the important increase, each 1 of these calls has the imaginable to beryllium a life-threatening emergency, and that’s really superior they are,” Dowd said. “So taking precautions is highly important.”

What to do if you spot a rattlesnake

Co-existing pinch rattlesnakes is captious arsenic humans stock outdoor spaces pinch the serpents.

Avoid a rattlesnake, arsenic they effort to debar you, by staying connected a designated way and being alert of wherever you’re stepping.

If you spot a rattlesnake successful the wild, experts say, the champion point you could do is put region betwixt it and yourself. Back distant from the snake slowly.

And, if you are wondering about whether you are wrong striking distance, past you are excessively close, said Greg Pauly, curator of herpetology astatine the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

“Give rattlesnakes astatine slightest 3 to 4 feet of space, and much for larger individuals,” he said.

During a hike, if you request to return a break connected a log aliases a rock, make judge to inspect it earlier taking a spot — it could beryllium a serpent’s resting spot.

If a rattlesnake bites you, telephone 911 instantly and telephone the California Poison Control System hotline astatine (800) 222-1222 for further advice.