A hiker was airlifted to a local hospital on Monday afternoon after being bitten by a rattlesnake in the Bear Canyon area of the Angeles National Forest. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Montrose Search and Rescue, alongside the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team, responded to the incident around 4 p.m.
The victim had alerted a family member via text about the snake bite but could not provide his exact location, according to a statement from the LASD Montrose Search and Rescue Team on Facebook. Due to the extensive response areas of both rescue teams, they collaborated on a coordinated search.
Difficulties in locating the hiker arose from dense tree cover, which hindered the helicopter crew's visibility. Search teams traversed the Switzer Falls Trail and the Tom Sloan Saddle area. The hiker was eventually spotted and subsequently airlifted for medical treatment.
Following the incident, the LASD advised individuals hiking in remote areas to carry a satellite emergency communication device, emphasizing that precise location information can be as critical as knowing what has occurred.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends staying calm if bitten by a snake, keeping the affected area lower than the heart, and immediately calling for help. While rattlesnake bites are rare, Southern California has recorded more than 250 rattlesnake encounters this year. In late July, another rattlesnake bite incident occurred in Los Angeles County when a woman was bitten in her backyard garden.