Recent snake-bite rescues on Montecito trails have renewed attention to rattlesnake safety in Santa Barbara County.

Emergency personnel rescued two injured people off local trails in April, including someone with a confirmed rattlesnake bite on the Buena Vista Trail and a suspected bite on the Cold Springs Trail, based on the patient’s symptoms.

Montecito Fire Protection District officials said that both victims were trail runners who did not see the snakes before being bitten on the ankle.

District spokesperson Christina Atchison said rattlesnake exposures were not statistically above normal in Santa Barbara County, but that the California Poison Control System had reported a rising number of exposures statewide since 2023.

That system reported 77 confirmed human rattlesnake exposures in California as of April 1, compared with a total of 395 last year.

Three people have died from venomous snake bites in California this year, the Los Angeles Times reported.

At Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, emergency staff said they are seeing patients with bites earlier in the season than usual.

In April, the hospital treated two patients bitten by rattlesnakes on Santa Barbara trails, and a third was flown in from the Santa Ynez Valley.

In 2024, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital reported treating seven rattlesnake bite victims over the course of seven weeks.

What to Do If You Are Bitten By A Rattlesnake

Dr. Jordan Justice, an emergency department physician at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, said anyone bitten by a snake should go to the emergency room even if they do not immediately develop overt symptoms such as swelling or pain.

He also warned people not to try to treat the wound themselves with home remedies.

“Do not use tourniquets, do not try cutting or sucking the venom, do not try ice packs,” Justice said. “Just elevate the extremity if it’s on an extremity and come to the emergency department.”

He emphasized that anyone who suspects they were bitten by a venomous snake should focus on staying calm and getting to the hospital.

Once at the hospital, Justice said, patients may be observed for six to 12 hours even if they initially appear stable. He said symptoms can develop later and may worsen rapidly.

Justice added that people should never assume they received a dry bite simply because symptoms are not present.

Blake Henderson, emergency department manager at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, said a bite may not seem severe at first, but patients can become “critically unstable” and require hospitalization and extensive treatment.

Henderson also said people bitten on the hand or foot should remove jewelry because swelling may become an issue later.

And as emergency department nursing director Denise McDonald told Noozhawk last year, bite victims definitely don’t need to bring in the snake that bit them.

“We don’t need to see the snake; don’t try to catch the snake,” she said.

Rattlesnake Bites on Hiking Trails

If you are bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking, Atchison said the first step is to get to a safe location away from the snake, call for help and then wait for help to arrive.

Jason Copus of Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue said the default response after a suspected rattlesnake bite should be to stop, remain calm and contact 9-1-1 immediately.

Copus’ team conducts trail rescues for rattlesnake bite victims and other injured hikers.

He said one of the most overlooked preparedness habits is simply knowing your exact location.

He said many hikers carry a phone but do not know their trail name or how to access GPS coordinates, which can slow rescue efforts. He urged hikers to know their route, carry a charged phone and, if possible, bring a GPS device with an SOS feature.

In the April 12 rescue at the Buena Vista Trail, the injured hiker did not have adequate cell service to call 9-1-1, but was able to send a text to a loved one, who then contacted emergency services.

Copus said if a 9-1-1 call cannot be maintained, text-to-9-1-1 can be critical. The first message should include the trail name and approximate location or GPS coordinates.

It should also note that it is a rattlesnake bite if suspected, when it happened, current symptoms, and whether the patient can walk.

“The more precise your location, the faster we can find you,” Copus said.

Once help is activated, he said, staying put is almost always the safest choice because unnecessary movement can speed up venom circulation and complicate rescue.

Texting 9-1-1 dispatchers can be done anywhere in Santa Barbara County, and it is a useful tool in areas without cell service or during phone service outages.

Rattlesnake Safety Tips

Atchison advised hikers to avoid wearing headphones on the trail so they can better hear their surroundings, as rattlesnakes will often alert people to their presence when disturbed. 

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, rattlesnakes might rattle to warn they’re close, but startled snakes may not rattle before striking and biting.

Most rattlesnake bites happen between April and October, when both snakes and people are more active outdoors, CDFW says. The agency also says that snakes are most active at dawn, dusk and at night during warmer months.

Here are more tips on rattlesnake safety and bite prevention from CDFW:

• Wear sturdy boots and loose-fitting long pants. DO NOT wear sandals or flip-flops in brushy areas.
• Stay on well-used trails. Avoid tall grass, weeds and heavy underbrush.
• Check rocks, stumps or logs before sitting down.
• Shake out the sleeping bag and tent before use.
• Let others know where you are going, when you plan to return, and carry a cell phone. Hike with a companion when possible.
• Do not grab “sticks” in water. Rattlesnakes can swim.
• Do not let dogs off leash. Dogs are at increased risk when sniffing the ground near brushy areas.
• Do not try to touch or handle a snake, dead or alive. Dead rattlers may still inject venom shortly after death.