Rattlesnake Bite Safety
What Southern California Residents Should Know.
Rattlesnakes are a familiar part of Southern California’s natural environment. Although they generally try to avoid people, encounters become more common when warmer weather brings both snakes and residents outdoors.
California has experienced an unusually active rattlesnake season in 2026. By midyear, the California Poison Control System had received reports of 277 rattlesnake bites — nearly as many as it typically receives in an entire year.
These encounters can happen close to home. In April, a woman was bitten by a rattlesnake while picking flowers near Paseo Del Campo in Palos Verdes Estates. Police officers provided aid until paramedics arrived, and the woman was transported to a hospital in stable condition. Following the incident, city officials reminded residents to remain alert on trails and near rocks, brush and tall grass.
Knowing how to reduce your risk — and how to respond if a bite occurs — can help protect you, your family and your pets.
“A suspected rattlesnake bite should always be treated as a medical emergency, even when the bite initially appears minor,” says Kurt Hansen, MD, who has served patients at the Torrance Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department since 2017.
A rattlesnake bite is a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately, move away from the snake and keep the person calm and as still as possible. Remove rings, watches or other items that could restrict swelling. Do not apply ice, cut the wound, use a tourniquet or attempt to remove the venom. Torrance Memorial’s Emergency Department evaluates and treats rattlesnake bites and stocks CroFab antivenom.
When Is Rattlesnake Activity Highest?
Most bites in California occur between April and October. Rattlesnakes respond to the temperature around them. In spring and summer, they are often more active around dawn, dusk and at night, when conditions are not as hot.
They may be found near trails, rocks, tall grass, woodpiles, brush, rodent burrows and shaded areas around homes. Rattlesnakes also may not rattle before striking, so hikers and residents should not rely on hearing a warning.
What Happens After a Rattlesnake Bite?
The effects of a bite depend on factors including the amount of venom injected, the bite location and the individual’s health.
“Some bites inject little or no venom, but there is no safe way to determine that outside a hospital,” Hansen says. “Bites to certain sites like the face are particularly high risk.”
Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling, bruising, bleeding, nausea, lightheadedness, numbness, difficulty breathing or, in serious cases, collapse and shock. Venom also can affect blood clotting and cause symptoms that progress over several hours. Every suspected rattlesnake bite should therefore be treated as a medical emergency.
What Should You Do After a Bite?
Move away from the snake and call 911 immediately. Sit or lie down, remain as calm and still as possible and follow instructions from emergency responders. Remove rings, watches or tight clothing near the affected area before swelling increases.
Do not apply ice or heat, use a tourniquet, cut the wound or attempt to suck out the venom. Do not try to capture or kill the snake. The antivenom used for Southern California rattlesnake bites does not require the medical team to have the snake for identification.
Antivenom is administered based on the patient’s symptoms, laboratory results and progression of the injury. CroFab’s prescribing information recommends beginning treatment as soon as possible when signs of envenomation develop. Patients may need multiple doses and continued hospital observation.
How Can You Reduce Your Risk?
When hiking, remain on marked trails, wear sturdy shoes and long pants, watch where you step and avoid reaching into brush or places you cannot clearly see. Carry a charged phone, hike with another person and tell someone where you are going.
Around the home, reduce hiding places by clearing heavy brush and debris, controlling rodents and using caution around woodpiles, rocks, outdoor equipment and packages left on the ground. Keep children nearby and dogs on a leash in areas where snakes may be present. Never approach or handle a rattlesnake, even when it appears dead.
Rattlesnake Bite Treatment at Torrance Memorial
Torrance Memorial’s Emergency Department is prepared to evaluate and treat patients with rattlesnake bites. CroFab antivenom is stocked through the hospital pharmacy, and the care team can coordinate access to additional doses when clinically necessary.
Torrance Memorial is also listed in the LA County EMS Rapid App as a hospital capable of treating rattlesnake bites. In a suspected bite emergency, always call 911 so emergency responders can begin care and direct the patient to an appropriate hospital.
A rattlesnake bite is not a “wait and see” injury. Prompt emergency evaluation and treatment can help limit serious complications.
Dr. Kurt Hansen earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA before attending University of California-Davis School of Medicine, where he graduated with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. He completed his emergency medicine residency at Los Angeles General Medical Center and was part of a nationally recognized trainee team that won a simulated critical care competition.
Since 2017, Dr. Hansen has cared for patients in the emergency department at Torrance Memorial Medical Center, serving the South Bay community where he also lives and raises his family. He currently serves as one of the medical directors for the emergency department, with a focus on improving the coordination and delivery of care for critically ill patients throughout the medical center system.
