Simi Valley Hiker Airlifted After Rattlesnake Bite

A female hiker was airlifted to a hospital Thursday after a rattlesnake bit her on the ankle along the Long Canyon Trail in the Wood Ranch neighborhood of Simi Valley, California. The incident marked the seventh reported rattlesnake bite in Ventura County since mid-March, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Firefighters and paramedics responded to the 2:40 p.m. emergency call. Crews reached the remote location both by ground and helicopter, airlifting the woman to Los Robles Regional Medical Center for antivenom treatment. Officials described her injuries as minor and said she remained in stable condition.

Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd noted the uptick in encounters. "This was the seventh reported snakebite in Ventura County since mid-March," Dowd said. "Year-to-year comparison, we are definitely seeing more rattlesnake bites this year than we have in previous years." The county recorded nine bites total in 2025. While the number remains small relative to overall emergency calls, Dowd emphasized their seriousness. "Every one of these calls has the potential to be a life-threatening emergency," he said.

Recent warm weather has spurred earlier...