California's Bad Year for Rattlesnake Bites Continues

A woman out for a hike in southern California ended up needing an airlift after crossing paths with a rattlesnake, ABC 7 reports. Ventura County Fire officials say she was bitten on the ankle Thursday afternoon in the Wood Ranch area of Simi Valley and flown to a hospital, where she was listed in stable condition.

It's the seventh rattlesnake bite reported in the county since mid-March, USA Today reports. There were nine there in all of 2025; statewide there have already been three fatal bites this year, including one in Ventura County: a 46-year-old Moorpark woman who died after being bitten in Thousand Oaks in March. Typically, the state averages zero or one rattlesnake fatalities per year.

Local hikers and fire officials are urging extra caution as warm weather brings snakes out. Their guidance: stick to established trails, steer clear of tall grass and thick brush, wear boots and long pants, and look carefully before stepping over rocks or logs. "Watch where you're walking … and 99% of the time, you're going to see them, if you're paying attention, long before they become aware of you," says Thousand Oaks hiker Fred Houston. If a bite takes place, officials say to avoid using a tourniquet or attempting to remove the venom, People reports. The bitten area should be kept lower than the heart, and no ice or heat should be used on it.