alifornia is experiencing an unprecedented surge in rattlesnake activity following an unseasonably warm March, leading to a record number of encounters and two fatalities last month in Southern California.
Experts are warning outdoor enthusiasts, particularly those hitting the Pacific Crest Trail and high-desert regions, that the traditional rattlesnake season has arrived a full month ahead of schedule.
Surge in Encounters and Fatalities
According to the California Poison Control System, 77 rattlesnake bite calls were recorded in the first three months of 2026 alone. …
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