A promising college baseball player, Jake Entrup, depleted the anti-venom supply at a Southern California hospital after a rattlesnake bite during a hike on July 18. Entrup, 22, was hiking on the Claremont Wilderness Trail when a rattlesnake bit him on the leg.
Entrup was airlifted to Pomona Valley Trauma Center, where he received 20 doses of anti-venom. The hospital's supply was insufficient to meet his needs, prompting his transfer via ambulance to LA County General, where he received an additional 14 doses. He remained in the ICU for three days before being released.
"Within the first two minutes, I put my hand in front of my face and I could not see it," Entrup told KTLA, describing the immediate aftermath of the bite. He reported seeing the snake, which hissed at him before retreating into the bushes.
A GoFundMe campaign launched by his family indicated that a nurse was present on the trail and provided initial aid. Entrup, who had committed to playing college baseball and was preparing for graduate school in the fall, had been working double shifts to fund his education. His recovery is expected to prevent him from working for several weeks.
Entrup advised other hikers to be aware of their surroundings and to try to remain calm in such encounters. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes annually in the U.S. As of early July, Southern California had recorded over 250 rattlesnake bites, with three fatalities.
Unseasonably warm weather has been cited as a contributing factor to increased snake sightings and activity. Cort Klopping of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife previously stated that warmer temperatures encourage snakes to be more active.