Trending Now - California's Snakebite Death Toll Rises With Elderly Victim
WHO:
ABC News - A 78-year-old woman from Northern California has died from snake bites.
Los Angeles Times - The woman has not been identified by officials.
WHAT:
ABC News - The woman was bitten three times by a venomous snake and died two days later.
ABC News - This incident marks the third deadly snake bite victim in California in 2026.
Los Angeles Times - The preliminary cause of death was determined to be disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and snake envenomation from snake bites.
Los Angeles Times - On average, five people die nationwide from venomous snakebites annually.
WHERE:
ABC News - The incident occurred in Redwood Valley, Mendocino County, California.
Los Angeles Times - Rattlesnakes are the only venomous snakes in Mendocino County.
WHEN:
ABC News - The woman was bitten on April 8th, 2026, and died on April 10th, 2026.
ABC News - A 25-year-old man died from a rattlesnake bite in February 2026.
ABC News - A 46-year-old woman died from a rattlesnake bite in March 2026.
Los Angeles Times - Rattlesnake activity began in earnest in March 2026.
WHY:
Los Angeles Times - An unseasonable weather pattern, including heavy rain and sweltering heat, prompted rattlesnakes to emerge from their winter burrows in search of food and mates.
HOW:
ABC News - The woman was treated at a hospital after the snake bites but succumbed to her injuries.
Los Angeles Times - The California Poison Control System reported 77 calls regarding rattlesnake bites in the first three months of 2026.
(UPDATED April 22, 2026 17:23 UTC)
A 78-year-old woman from Northern California has died from snake bites after being bitten three times by a venomous rattlesnake in Redwood Valley, with her death occurring two days later April 10th. This incident marks the third deadly snake bite victim in California this year, following the deaths of a 25-year-old man in February and a 46-year-old woman in March, as rattlesnake activity has surged due to an unseasonable weather pattern. The preliminary cause of death was determined to be disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and snake envenomation, and the California Poison Control System reported 77 calls regarding rattlesnake bites in the first three months of 2026.