Firefighters rescued a teenage girl from Wendy’s Trail in Newbury Park on Friday after she reported a rattlesnake bite.
The incident is the latest in a growing number of snakebite incidents across Southland.
The Ventura County Fire Department received a call reporting the incident around 7:30 p.m.
Firefighters climbed up to reach the girl and used a special wheeled apparatus to bring her down and transfer her to an ambulance to be taken to a local hospital. According to fire department officials, the girl was in stable condition with minor injuries at the time.
About a week earlier, Ventura County fire officials responded to another snakebite incident at Wildwood Regional Park near Thousand Oaks.
In March, 25-year-old Julian Hernandez died after a suspected rattlesnake bite in Irvine.
Although reluctant to draw a direct line between the recent rise in temperatures across the region and the apparent increase in snakebites, Andrew Dowd, public information officer for the Ventura County Fire Department, said warmer weather typically brings out the wildlife.
“This is the time of year when residents are out recreating and hiking and enjoying all the natural beauty of the area,” Dowd said in a phone call Sunday. “And when the weather is warm, encounters with wildlife are certainly possible.”
Death from rattlesnake bites is rare in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes annually, with fewer than 1 in 10 resulting in deaths.
Dowd notes some simple guidelines for encountering wildlife while hiking. Wear hiking shoes and long pants for safety. Walk on clearly marked, visible paths. Avoid walking through tall grass and bushes where snakes may be hiding.
If one encounters a potentially dangerous snake, stop and step back while maintaining a reasonable distance from the snake.
“This highlights the importance of being vigilant and staying safe when enjoying the outdoors,” Dowd said. “Our hope is that people will always rebuild safely.”
