A Near‑Fatal Encounter
Jake Entrup, a professional baseball player, was hiking in Southern California when a rattlesnake struck, injecting venom that forced him into emergency care.
He was airlifted to Pomona Valley Trauma Center, where physicians administered 20 vials of antivenom. As the hospital's supply dwindled, Entrup was transferred to LA County General, where he received an additional 14 doses, bringing his total to 34.
Entrup spent three days in the intensive care unit before being discharged, a timeline that underscores the severity of the bite. Doctors have advised that he will be unable to work for several weeks while he continues his recovery.
The incident coincides with a surge in snake encounters across the region. Officials note that unseasonably warm temperatures have heightened reptile activity, leading to more than 250 rattlesnake bites reported in Southern California early July, with three fatalities recorded. Nationwide, between 7,000 and 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year.
Cort Klopping of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife explained that snakes become more active as temperatures rise, a pattern that has public health officials urging hikers to stay vigilant and take precautions while on trails.