Southern California rattlesnake bites spike; OC cyclist among 2 dead

A Palos Verdes Estates resident was hospitalized in stable condition after a rattlesnake bit them while picking flowers April 18, the latest in a series of bites across Southern California that has killed at least two people this year, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The incident adds to a growing pattern of rattlesnake encounters on open-space trails throughout Southern California, including in Orange County, where a 25-year-old Costa Mesa man died after being bitten while mountain biking at Quail Hill Trail in Irvine.

The bitten resident was found in the Paseo Del Campo open space area and transported to a local hospital, where they were listed in stable condition, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

The Palos Verdes Estates bite follows a string of serious incidents across the region. Julian Hernandez, 25, of Costa Mesa died March 4 from a bite suffered Feb. 1 while mountain biking at Quail Hill Trail in Irvine, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. A 46-year-old Moorpark woman died March 14 after being bitten at Wildwood Regional Park.

In a separate incident, Montecito fire crews rescued a woman bitten on the Buena Vista Trail after she was unable to reach 911 and texted for emergency help, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Between 7,000 and 8,000 venomous snake bites are reported across the United States each year, with an average of five annual deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as cited by ABC7 Los Angeles. California is home to seven species of rattlesnakes.

The city of Palos Verdes Estates urges residents to stay on established trails, keep pets on leashes and avoid areas with rocks, brush or tall grass where snakes may shelter, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

Despite the recent fatalities, rattlesnakes are documented as typically avoiding contact with people; most bites occur when a snake is accidentally disturbed or handled, ABC7 Los Angeles noted.