Snake bites surging across America
Jesse Watters highlighted a sharp rise in snakebite cases across the U.S. this summer, with California already surpassing its usual annual count for deadly bites. The report pointed to several alarming incidents, including Chris, who needed 36 vials of antivenom after being bitten by a Western rattlesnake, and a 2-year-old Colorado girl who had to be flown to a hospital following a rattlesnake attack.
A family in Southern California is warning others to be extra cautious after their 3-year-old daughter was bitten by a rattlesnake that had been hiding under an Amazon delivery outside their home. The incident is among the latest in a wave of rattlesnake encounters during what officials describe as an especially active snake season in California.
The close call follows another recent emergency in Ventura County, where a hiker had to be airlifted from a remote trail after suffering a rattlesnake bite.
Ventura County firefighters previously told INC News that crews had handled seven rattlesnake bite calls in about a month. Authorities said warmer temperatures were likely bringing snakes out earlier than normal, increasing the chances of dangerous encounters.
According to Manuel Barajas, his daughter Addy went outside after her mother said an Amazon package had arrived and been tossed over the front gate. When the 3-year-old reached for the padded mailer, a Southern Pacific rattlesnake hidden underneath struck her left hand.
A Southern Pacific rattlesnake is handled by a wrangler in Landers, California. The same species recently bit a 3-year-old girl after hiding beneath an Amazon package outside her family’s home. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, File)
Addy’s mother quickly drove her to a nearby grocery store parking lot, where paramedics met the family and took the child to a hospital. She was later moved to a pediatric intensive care unit and spent two days there while doctors administered additional antivenom treatment.
Wildlife specialists say California’s unusually warm spring has led to more rattlesnake movement this year, helping drive an increase in snakebite reports. Statewide, three snakebite deaths have been reported amid the heightened activity.
The latest incident follows several other serious encounters this year. In May, a woman hiking in Ventura County was airlifted to a hospital after being bitten by a rattlesnake on a remote trail. A Thousand Oaks woman also died in March after being bitten while hiking at Wildwood Regional Park.
The snake was underneath a padded Amazon package when it lunged at the 3-year-old child. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, File)
Health officials say anyone bitten by a rattlesnake should seek emergency medical care immediately, remain as still as possible and avoid attempting home remedies that can worsen the injury.
Barajas told Nexstar’s KTLA he hopes sharing his family’s experience will encourage others to stay vigilant around their homes and know which hospitals are equipped to treat pediatric snakebite emergencies.
Experts say California has seen increased rattlesnake activity this year. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images, File)
“She’s doing great now. She’s, I want to say, about 70% recovered,” Barajas said. “She’s still bruised on her left hand where she was bitten. Her spirits are high, her demeanor is great, but she keeps asking why she was bitten by a snake.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family cover Addy’s medical expenses and lost income while she continues to recover.
