Firefighters with the Montecito Fire Protection District and other emergency personnel responded Monday to a trail in the Los Padres National Forest for a report of an injured female hiker with a snake bite, department spokesperson Christina Atchison confirmed.

A Santa Barbara County helicopter later transported the hiker to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

The hiker was located roughly 1.5 miles from the Cold Springs Trail trailhead on the Ridge Trail.

Atchison said she couldn’t confirm the type of snake, but based on the hiker’s symptoms, emergency personnel treated her for a rattlesnake bite.

Personnel first responded to that area at around 10:53 a.m.

Firefighters and the Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue team responded on foot, while Copter 308 provided air support.

A spokesperson with the Search & Rescue team said rattlesnake activity increases as temperatures rise in the area.

“Rattlesnakes play an important role in our ecosystem and are generally not aggressive, but they will defend themselves if threatened. Most bites occur when someone gets too close or attempts to handle or move a snake,” a spokesperson said.

Hikers should stay on trails and avoid tall grass or brush. If bitten, call 911.