The California Poison Control System has reported 77 calls of rattlesnake bites in just the first three months of 2026. “As temperatures warm in the spring, we see a dramatic increase in daytime surface activity,” Pauly said. In the lowland areas that include Los Angeles, rattlesnakes have underground burrows that are home to one or maybe two snakes, Taylor said. The peak season for rattlesnake activity occurs typically from April to October; it’s also when the California Poison Control System receives the most calls of rattlesnake encounters. Scientists are exploring how snake venom could address cancer, strokes and Alzheimer’s disease, she said.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 01, 2026 14:33 UTC