Southern California is grappling with a significant increase in rattlesnake bites, with Ventura County reporting six incidents in the last month alone. The California Poison Control System has noted a substantial rise in rattlesnake bite calls for the first three months of 2026, surpassing typical annual figures. Experts attribute this surge to unusually warm weather and heavy rains earlier in the year, which have disrupted snake hibernation patterns and boosted rodent populations, a primary food source for rattlesnakes.