A 78-year-old woman has died after being bitten several times by a venomous snake in northern California, marking the third fatal snakebite incident in the state this year.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to USA TODAY on Thursday, April 23, that a woman from Redwood Valley died earlier this month in a snake-related incident. The woman, who was not identified, was walking in a rural area on April 8 when she was bitten three times by the snake, the sheriff's office said.
She was then transported to the hospital by family members and treated, according to the sheriff's office. But her health deteriorated, and she was pronounced dead at the hospital on April 10.
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A forensic pathologist conducted a post-mortem examination on April 15 as part of the sheriff’s investigation. The woman's death was determined to be accidental, according to the agency.
"The preliminary cause of death was determined to be disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and snake envenomation from snake bites," the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The agency did not identify the snake species involved, but rattlesnakes are the only venomous snakes native to California, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. The death comes amid a spike in reported snake attacks in the state as rattlesnakes emerge from hibernation.
Snake-related incidents in California
Multiple cases involving rattlesnake bites have been reported across California in recent months, including two fatal incidents.
The Ventura County Star, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported that a 46-year-old woman died on March 19 from a rattlesnake bite. The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office said the woman's cause of death was determined to be rattlesnake venom toxicity.
A 25-year-old man died weeks after he was bitten by a rattlesnake while mountain biking with his father in Irvine, California, in February, according to a GoFundMe page and local television station KABC. The man, identified as Julian Hernandez, was biking at the Quail Hill Trailhead on Feb. 1 when he was bitten in the leg, KABC reported.
Hernandez's family said on the GoFundMe page that he was bitten after stepping aside to let people pass on the trail. He was then immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.
"His whole family was there at the ICU, advocating for him every step of the way," the GoFundMe page states. "He was progressing through recovery and his own strength for over a month. With immense sorrow and grief, Julian did not survive."
The Irvine Police Department and Orange County Sheriff's Department told KABC that Hernandez died on March 4. The sheriff's department said the coroner ruled Hernandez's death was caused by an animal bite.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Irvine Police Department for comment.
The Star and the Palm Springs Desert Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported other non-fatal snake incidents in recent weeks. At least two snake bite-related incidents have been documented on a hiking trail in Montecito this month, according to the Desert Sun.
On April 12, a woman was rescued after the Montecito Fire Protection District responded to a report of "an injured hiker who was reportedly bitten by a rattlesnake" on the Buena Vista Trail. Authorities said the woman was about "three-quarters of a mile up the trail" when she was bitten on her ankle.
So far in 2026, authorities in Ventura County have received at least four reports of people bitten by rattlesnakes as of March 20, according to the Star. In one instance, the newspaper reported that a 14-year-old was hospitalized for multiple days after she fell and stepped on a snake.
When is rattlesnake season?
Unseasonably warm weather — including a record-breaking heatwave in March — has driven rattlesnakes out of their winter retreats across the state, increasing the chances of encounters as more people venture outdoors for recreation, wildlife experts said.
Rattlesnake season in California typically runs from April through October, when warmer temperatures increase rattlesnake activity and breeding, according to Cal Poly biological sciences professor Emily Taylor. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the majority of bites occur during this season as snakes and people become more active outdoors.
Recent hot temperatures have made rattlesnakes more active than usual this time of year, said Brian Stark, administrator at the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency.
Nearly 50 snake species are native to California, including seven rattlesnake species, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. The California Poison Control System says the most common rattlesnakes that are found in the state include:
- Mojave rattlesnakes can be found in the Mojave Desert.
- Northern Pacific rattlesnakes live in the Central Valley.
- Red rattlesnakes can be found in the southwestern region into the Baja Peninsula.
- Sidewinder, speckled, and western diamondback rattlesnakes live in the southeastern region, specifically in deserts.
Fatal rattlesnake bites are rare
Deaths from rattlesnake bites are rare in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
Each year, about 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes, including rattlesnakes, the CDC and Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County said. Of those incidents, around five to six are fatal.
"Although most people do not die from snake bites, there can be lasting effects," the CDC notes on its website. "More people would die if they did not seek medical care ... For those bitten by rattlesnakes, 10–44 percent will have lasting injuries. For example, they may lose all or part of a finger or lose the ability to use it."
What to do if bitten by a rattlesnake
If bitten by a rattlesnake, the CDC and California Poison Control System recommend:
- Stay as calm as possible and do not panic.
- Move away from the snake to avoid any additional bites.
- Call 911 immediately.
- Call the Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222 for further advice.
- Sit or lie down, and keep the bitten area lower than your heart.
- Do not use a tourniquet, attempt to suck out venom, or cut the bite site.
- Do not apply ice or heat to the bite site.
The CDC urges people to seek emergency medical care as soon as possible "to start antivenom (if needed) and stop irreversible damage." Most people recover fully after receiving antivenom, according to wildlife and health officials.
Contributing: Cheri Carlson, Ventura County Star; Daniella Segura and James Ward, Palm Springs Desert Sun
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California woman bitten three times by venomous snake dies
