Record-breaking March heat is sending Southern California’s rattlesnake season into an early start, and officials are urging residents to take precautions after a string of recent incidents — including at least one fatality.
In California, peak rattlesnake season typically runs from April through October. But warmer-than-usual temperatures are pushing the creatures out weeks ahead of schedule. On Friday, a teenage girl was transported to a Ventura County hospital after being bitten by a rattlesnake on a trail in Thousand Oaks. According to Ventura County Fire Public Information Officer Andrew Dowd, the bite was the second such incident in Thousand Oaks in just about a week, and he said the unseasonably warm weather is drawing the snakes out earlier than normal.
The heat is behind a deadly encounter as well. A 25-year-old Orange County man recently died after a rattlesnake bite, underscoring just how serious these encounters can be.
Capt. Greg Barta with the Orange County Fire Authority is advising hikers to stay alert on trails. “Often times we see those bites occur right near the edge of a trail,” Barta said. “So if you’re out walking, hiking, stay in the middle of the trail, keep those AirPods out so you’re not distracted and you can hear as well.”
Residents are encouraged to remain cautious on local trails as rattlesnake activity is likely to stay elevated through the warmer months ahead.
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