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San Diego County has been seeing a large uptick in reports of rattlesnake bites and sightings. Just last week a man was hospitalized after being bitten several times on the foot near South Torrey Pines Beach. Bruce Ireland with San Diego Snake Wranglers told CBS8 that he received 16 calls about snake sightings this past weekend and most of them were rattlesnakes. So what's causing this rise in rattlesnake encounters?
"When the weather starts warming up, it gets crazy. The calls start coming in," Ireland told CBS8. "We've had this rash of hot weather lately with 90's and 85. They're all out and about hunting, looking for shelter looking for water."
Other recent rattlesnake scares include a woman in University City who found one in her driveway and a bull terrier who was attacked by one in his yard in Escondido. Luckily, the dog, Rocky, survived the attack.
Here are some tips to ensure your safety if you encounter a rattlesnake:
- If it's in nature, give it space so it doesn't feel threatened, and walk around it
- If it's inside and around your home, call a professional
- If you get bitten, seek medical attention immediately by going to a hospital you know has anti-venom