Home / Disasters and Accidents / Muffled Rattle, Deadly Bite: California Rattlesnake Encounter Turns Dire
Muffled Rattle, Deadly Bite: California Rattlesnake Encounter Turns Dire
10 Jul
Summary
- Man bitten twice by rattlesnake while visiting parents in Oroville.
- Hospital ran out of crucial antivenom, leading to patient transfer.
- Wet weather contributed to snake's muffled rattle, increasing surprise.
A man visiting his parents in Oroville, California, was bitten twice by a rattlesnake on May 26, an event that occurred as rattlesnake activity increased following a March heat wave. The victim, Chris Howarth, initially mistook the encounter for stepping on a sticker plant.
His condition rapidly worsened, with symptoms including a numb tongue and difficulty breathing, necessitating immediate transport to Oroville Hospital. While he received antivenom, a severe blood clotting condition developed. The Oroville Hospital later ran out of antivenom, forcing a transfer to Stanford Hospital.
At Stanford, a different antivenom proved effective, and Howarth ultimately received 54 doses over a 12-day hospitalization. Medical experts noted that requiring so many doses is rare. The couple also noted that wet weather conditions can muffle a rattlesnake's warning rattle, increasing the risk of surprise encounters.
