Rare rattlesnake bite death in Orange County highlights hidden danger on SoCal trails

A 25-year-old man died after being bitten by a rattlesnake last month in Irvine, prompting an alert from Orange County animal control officials as the snakes infest roads and open spaces.

The Orange County Fire Authority responded around 11 a.m. on Feb. 1 in the Quail Hill community after receiving a report of a rattlesnake bite, said Kyle Oldoerp, public information officer for the Irvine Police Department.

“He was riding his bike and he stopped and waited for his friend,” said Oldoerp. “He fell into the brush area where he was bitten.”

Julian Hernandez, 25, was taken to the hospital where he remained until his death a few weeks later on March 4. The case was described as an animal bite but the animal has not been found, according to Oldoerp.

Death comes as rattlesnakes begin to appear on trails Orange County early in the seasonaccording to outdoor enthusiasts and animal control officials.

Greg Hardesty, a veteran trail runner in Orange County, said snake encounters are a common part of trail running in the area.

“It’s unusual for me to see rattlesnakes because I’m a runner in Orange County and I stick to the lowlands,” Hardesty said.

Hardesty has been running local trails for about 20 years and says he usually sees snakes several times each year.

However, his latest encounter came earlier in the year than he would have expected.

Last Wednesday around 11:30 a.m., Hardesty encountered a large snake while jogging on a small trail in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park near Laguna Beach.

“When I run on the trails I always look down because the trails are rocky and you can easily fall,” said Hardesty. “That’s where I saw a big snake that looked like a baseball bat at first.”

He realized that it was a snake when he was about six meters away.

“We had an argument for about a minute,” he said. “It seemed to me.”

Hardesty waited until the snake was out of the way before continuing to run.

“They are not violent and they want to be left alone,” he said. “If you hear them screaming, it’s a warning sign not to approach.”

Animal control officials say sightings tend to increase as temperatures rise.

“If the weather is hot, they will go out on the roads in the morning to warm up,” said the animal manager and field services manager. Mission Viejo Animal ServicesKyle Warner.

Mission Viejo Animal Services provides animal control services and shelters in five South Orange County cities including Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills and Rancho Santa Margarita.

Police respond to reports of rattlesnakes, especially when snakes appear in yards, homes or other areas where people may be in danger, Warner said.

“This is a priority call and a police officer will come out and remove the snake from the area,” he said.

But more often than not, officials say people are more likely to encounter rattlesnakes on trails where the animals live naturally.

“In everything we do, they don’t want it or they drive it away,” said Warner. “They’ll meet in a tight spot and if you give them a wide berth, they won’t move out of the way.”

As rattlesnake activity increases, awareness is key for hikers, runners and mountain bikers who use Orange County’s open space trails.

“It’s important that you don’t run on the tracks listening to the hottest music because it’s hidden and you need to hear it screaming,” said Hardesty.

Warner recommends checking outdoor areas carefully before planting a garden or reaching for brush or wood piles.

“If you are working in the garden or working near a lot of wood or trees, check the area first,” he said. “Use a rake to move things and listen for any rattles.”

Pet owners should keep dogs on leashes so they don’t dig into trees where snakes can hide, Warner said.

“Call 911 right away if you’ve been bitten and try to stay calm,” she said. “You don’t want to raise your heart rate.”

Deaths from snakebites remain rare in the United States.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an estimated 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year, with fewer than 10 deaths per year.