Hiker Hospitalized After Snake Bite Near Temecula

AGUANGA, CA — A hiker was hospitalized Wednesday evening with a snake bite suffered in the unincorporated Aguanga area east of Temecula.

Firefighters responded to the area of Highway 371 and Happy Valley Road about 7:30 p.m. and carried the victim out of the area to a nearby ambulance, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

The victim was taken to a hospital with stable vital signs, the department said.

The age, gender and name of the victim were not immediately available.

The type of snake that bit the hiker was not disclosed.

The only dangerous venomous native snakes found in Southern California are the yellow-bellied sea snake, which occurs in the ocean off southern California and is rarely encountered, and rattlesnakes, according to the website californiaherps.com.

Some non-venomous snakes bites can cause a reaction in some people, especially when blood is drawn and the wound is not disinfected, the website said.

Venomous or not, snakes do not aggressively attack humans — they attack only in self-defense or when feeding, the website continued.

"If you find a venomous snake, your best option is to leave it alone. For your own comfort and safety, and the well-being of the snake, try to avoid being bitten by any snake, including those that are non-venomous," according to the website.

"If you want to have a dangerous snake removed from your property, contact someone in your area with experience in snake removal and re-location," the website continued. "There is no reasonable need to kill any snake that is encountered, which often occurs due to our instinctive and emotional fear of snakes. Snakes are a natural and necessary part of any healthy environment. They play an important role in the food chain, and can be especially beneficial to humans when they consume and control rodent populations."

—City News Service contributed to this report.