One person was hospitalized Sunday after a rattlesnake bite at a home near the California State University Channel Islands campus in Camarillo, according to Ventura County firefighters. Friends rushed the victim into a vehicle and started driving toward a hospital, meeting an ambulance at Pleasant Valley Road and Lewis Road so paramedics could take over. Crews evaluated the victim at the scene and then transported the person to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Fire officials said the injuries were minor and confirmed the victim was neither a child nor an elderly adult.
What officials said
According to CBS Los Angeles, the bite happened a little before 4 p.m., and the victim was reportedly standing near a truck when the snake struck. Friends who were with the person called 911 as they began driving toward a hospital and met emergency responders at the intersection so paramedics could assume care. Authorities have not released any additional information about the victim’s identity or condition.
Why rattlers are out early
Wildlife experts and local agencies say an unusually warm spring has rattlesnakes leaving their winter hideouts earlier than normal, raising the odds of running into one in yards and on trails. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the California Poison Control System recorded dozens of rattlesnake-related calls in the first three months of 2026, and officials in Ventura County say they have seen multiple incidents in recent weeks. Experts say the recent heat spike is pushing peak snake activity earlier in the year, so residents are being urged to stay alert now rather than waiting for the traditional height of the season.
Recent local incidents
This Camarillo incident is the latest in a series of rattlesnake encounters in Ventura County. FOX 11 Los Angeles reported that a 46‑year‑old Moorpark woman later died after being bitten by a rattlesnake on March 14 at Wildwood Regional Park, and county responders say they have handled several other bite calls since mid‑March. That cluster has prompted officials to issue public cautions to hikers and homeowners throughout the Southland.
What to do if you’re bitten
Medical and poison control guidance is clear: call 911, keep the victim as calm and still as possible, and get them to a hospital instead of attempting home treatments. Poison.org and clinical sources advise against using tourniquets, cutting the bite area, or trying to suck out venom, and note that poison centers at 1‑800‑222‑1222 can offer immediate, free advice. Most rattlesnake envenomations can be treated with antivenom and supportive care when patients reach professional medical help quickly.
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