California Rattlesnake Encounters On the Rise

Already this summer, rattlesnake sightings are on the rise!  New data has revealed that San Diego County alone has had more sightings and encounters so far in 2024 than in the last five years. Two of the most recent snakebite victims were children. A two-year-old boy was playing in his yard with his parents nearby when a rattler struck. Doctors had to perform a ‘Hail Mary’ procedure, drilling into the toddler’s bone marrow so that the antivenom could be injected into the marrow. Luckily it worked!   In a separate incident, a seven-year-old boy was bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking with his family in a state park. He was airlifted to a nearby medical center and is going to recover.

Although these are scary stories, don’t avoid enjoying the great outdoors this summer. Instead, continue with fun activities, but keep an eye out because you never know when a venomous snake might cross your path, even in your own backyard. Although rattlesnakes can be seen year-around throughout the region, sightings are most common from April to September. A lot of snakes love rock piles because rock piles are a great refuge for them there. They’re sturdy, they’re fortified, they're impenetrable. The snakes can get under the rocks and escape or hide if they need to. But you never know when they can come up. They can be anywhere, they can hide in the grass, they can hide in the bushes,  under your porch. You have really no idea, so just be aware of your surroundings and wear snake proof gaiters or boots to help protect lower legs.

Rattlesnake toxin varies within rattlesnake populations, by season, by individual rattlesnake genetics and by other factors. Most times it takes only a matter of seconds before symptoms become visible such as pain and swelling. If bitten by a rattlesnake, call 911 immediately or go to a hospital. Treat a bite as a serious medical emergency! Urgent cares do not have anti-venom, but they can help stabilize a patient and arrange for transport to a nearby hospital. There are two antivenom medications currently available. The type of antivenom received depends on hospital availability. There is no data currently available suggesting one antivenom treatment is more effective than the other.  If you happen to be bitten by a rattlesnake, remove any items that can constrict swelling, such as watches rings and shoes, and go to the nearest medical facility.  Applying tourniquets, packing the wound with ice, old school snake bite kits, and sucking out the venom these are all myths that should be ignored.

If being vigilant about snakes isn’t enough, scientists have issued a warning to residents of Texas, Arizona, and other southwest states that deadly black widow spiders are expected to return this summer. Female spiders have a potent neurotoxin which is 15 times more powerful than a rattlesnake bite, and has the potential to be fatal. Black widows can be recognized by their deep black color and red stripe on their abdomen.

Rattlesnakes typically avoid human contact, with most rattlesnake strikes occurring with disturbance of the snake. That means the  number one thing you need to do if you ever see a rattlesnake is to avoid it at all costs. .It doesn’t benefit you to get up close, so just let the snake do its thing— far away from you!