A rattlesnake bite turned a hike into a rescue mission for a woman in Southern California, as she had to be airlifted to safety. The incident took place on the Long Canyon Trail in Simi Valley’s Wood Ranch community last Thursday.
This unfortunate encounter marks the seventh rattlesnake-related incident in Ventura County over the past month, a spike attributed to the recent heat wave that has spurred increased snake activity. The woman was quickly transported to Los Robles Regional Medical Center, where she received anti-venom treatment. The Ventura County Fire Department confirmed that she is now in stable condition, suffering only minor injuries.
Typically, rattlesnake sightings in the region tend to rise later in the summer. However, as KTLA reported, unusually high temperatures have led to an earlier surge in snake activities this year.
Just a few months earlier, in March, a woman from Thousand Oaks tragically lost her life after a rattlesnake bite while hiking in Wildwood Regional Park—a location not far from where the latest incident occurred.
A hiker was bitten by a rattlesnake Thursday, the seventh rattlesnake incident in Ventura County. (iStock)
A Thousand Oaks woman died in March after being bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking at Wildwood Regional Park, a short distance from Thursday’s incident.
Ventura County Fire Department Public Information Officer Andrew Dowd told Fox News Digital crews have seen an increase in rattlesnake activity and bites compared to last year.
“This was the seventh reported snakebite in Ventura County since mid-march,” Dowd said. “However, at least two of these have not occurred on hiking trails and hiking areas.
“While the total number of rattlesnake bites has increased for the same period as last year (we had nine total in 2025), it is still a very small number of the total calls we run here in the county,” he added.
“Still, these are serious emergencies and traumatic for the people who experience them. We always encourage residents and visitors to call 911 immediately if they are bitten.”
While deaths from rattlesnake bites are rare, they can cause pain and swelling around the bite site that can worsen and lead to severe tissue damage, according to Poison Control.
While rattlesnake bites are not typically deadly, they can still cause pain and swelling around the bite site. (Megan Varner/Getty Images)
Depending on the species, the venom can also affect the blood’s ability to clot, causing bleeding.
After the hiker was airlifted to the Los Robles Regional Medical Center, she received anti-venom treatment and is in stable condition. (NC Emergency Management)
Dowd told Fox News Digital that avid hikers should remain vigilant by making sure they are wearing proper clothing, including long pants, proper boots and gaiters. They should also avoid deviating from designated trails and steer clear of dense vegetation.
If bitten by a rattlesnake, victims should stay calm, limit movement, call 911 and seek emergency medical attention, avoiding myths such as sucking out the venom or applying ice.
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