Second Rattlesnake Bite Fatality Reported in Southern California as Spring Begins
Ventura County Woman Falls Victim to Rattlesnake Bite in Wildwood Park
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. – Gabriela Bautista, a 46-year-old woman from Moorpark, tragically passed away on March 19, five days after suffering a rattlesnake bite while hiking in Wildwood Regional Park. Her death marks the second reported fatality in the area during an unusually active snake season in Southern California.
According to local authorities, Bautista was bitten around 11:30 a.m. on March 14 in a remote section of the park located in the western Simi Hills and Conejo Valley. She was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment but succumbed to rattlesnake venom toxicity five days later.
Fire officials have noted a concerning rise in rattlesnake encounters, with four reported bites since mid-March, a stark increase compared to the nine total bites recorded in all of 2022. Experts attribute this surge to warmer temperatures that have stirred venomous reptiles from their winter dormancy earlier than usual. In light of these developments, the U.S. Forest Service has issued safety alerts to hikers.
Bautista’s case fits into a broader trend of increasing rattlesnake encounters. Recent incidents include a teenage girl bitten near the Wendy Drive trailhead in Newbury Park, as well as the early March death of a 25-year-old man in Orange County who had been bitten in February.
In response to these hazards, officials encourage hikers to take precautions, such as sticking to clear paths, maintaining distance if a rattlesnake is spotted, and knowing the appropriate steps to take in case of a bite. This advice is underscored by the caution from San Bernardino National Forest rangers, who remind the public that "as temperatures rise, rattlesnakes become more active."
