Seventh Rattlesnake Bite Reported in Ventura County Since Mid-March; Authorities Warn Hikers

In a new instance of a growing number of rattlesnake bites in Southern California, a person was bitten by a rattlesnake in Ventura County.

Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) firefighters responded to a rattlesnake bite incident near Long Canyon in Wood Ranch on April 30, 2026, the agency shared in a social media post.

This marks the seventh case reported of a rattlesnake bite in Ventura County since mid-March, authorities said.

VCFD firefighters responded to a rattlesnake bite off Long Canyon train in Wood Ranch today. This marks the 7th reported rattlesnake bite in Ventura County since mid-march.

With this increase in snake activity, we wanted to share some important rattlesnake safety information:… pic.twitter.com/bAhIpisQ2I

— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) May 1, 2026

The fire department did not share details about the person’s medical condition.

According to a KTLA5 report, a woman was bitten by a rattlesnake, prompting fire crews to deploy air and ground units to the trail in Simi Valley.

The incident comes amid an alarming rise in snake activity in the region.

Alarming Rise in Rattlesnake Bites

Last week, a woman was hospitalized after she was bitten by a rattlesnake in Palos Verdes in Los Angeles County. The woman was picking flowers in the parkland near the Paseo del Campo open space when she was bitten by a snake.

In March, a 46-year-old woman died after she was bitten by a rattlesnake in the Wildwood Regional Park area in Thousand Oaks in Ventura County.

The woman was bitten on March 14 and was airlifted by a VCFD helicopter to the Los Robles Regional Medical Center. She died on March 19.

On March 20, VCFD firefighters responded to reports of a snake bite on the Wendy Trail in Newbury Park. A teenage girl was transported to Los Robles in a stable condition with minor injuries.

Earlier in March, a 25-year-old man died after being bitten by a rattlesnake while mountain biking in Irvine, Orange County.

In April, a woman was rescued from the Buena Vista Trail in Montecito after sustaining a rattlesnake bite on her ankle. Montecito Fire had said this was the second snakebite-related emergency on a hiking trip that month.

How to Stay Safe

California is home to nearly 50 native snake species, including seven species of rattlesnakes, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

While rattlesnakes are not usually aggressive and tend to avoid people, a startled rattlesnake may not always rattle before striking defensively, according to the CDFW.

These snakes are typically active at dawn, dusk, and night during the spring and summer months.

Reminding the community that rattlesnakes are usually active this time of the year, VCFD said that rattlesnakes are often spotted on or near trails, in brush, and around rocks and logs.

Authorities encouraged residents and visitors to stay safe and alert while enjoying the trails.

If bitten, stay calm and call 911 immediately. Do not apply ice or a tourniquet to the wound or attempt to suck out the venom.