A 25-year-old man is dead after a suspected rattlesnake bite last month in Irvine, prompting warnings from animal control officials in Orange County as rattlesnake activity ramps up across trails and open spaces. The death comes as rattlesnakes are beginning to appear on trails across Orange County earlier in the season , according to outdoor enthusiasts and animal control officials. Advertisement“It’s not uncommon for me to see rattlesnakes because I’m a trail runner in Orange County and I stick to the foothills,” Hardesty said. “When the weather warms up they’ll come out onto trails in the morning to warm up,” said animal services manager and chief of field services for Mission Viejo Animal Services , Kyle Warner. AdvertisementMission Viejo Animal Services provides animal control and sheltering services for five South Orange County cities including Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills and Rancho Santa Margarita.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 13, 2026 21:51 UTC