Multiple news outlets report that a 25-year-old California man has died after being bitten by a rattlesnake while on a mountain bike ride at the Quail Hill trailhead in Irvine Ranch Open Space in Orange County, CA. Julian Hernandez was mountain biking with his father “when he was bit by a rattlesnake after stepping aside to let people pass on the trail,” according to an online fundraiser started by Julian’s family.
The incident occurred on February 1, and Hernandez spent more than a month in the hospital before succumbing to his injury, according to this report. About 7,000-8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the US each year, though most recover. However, in a typical year, about five of those people die following a snake bite. Among venomous snakes native to the US, Rattlesnake bites tend to be the most serious.
A website for the Irvine Ranch Open Space warns visitors the area “is characterized by certain inherent dangers. These dangers include rattlesnakes, poison oak, rugged terrain, and mountain lions.”
Snake bike treatments are expensive
Treatment for venomous snake bites can be very expensive, with multiple vials of antivenom required to treat most patients. So-Cal Rattlesnake Removal says the cost of antivenom alone can reach $50,000 to $100,000, in addition to other treatment and hospitalization costs.
Hernandez’s family is seeking donations in part to help pay for the treatment he received. “Raising these funds will help cover the costs of hospital fees, his memorial service, and any additional financial strain that arises from this ongoing situation,” they wrote. As of press time, more than $30,000 has been raised toward the $123,000 goal.
Rattlesnake encounters on mountain bike trails are rare, but serious
In 2023, 11-year-old Ethan Vogel was bitten by a rattlesnake while mountain biking with his dad in Golden, Colorado. Like Hernandez, Vogel unexpectedly encountered the snake at the side of a trail. Emergency responders arrived within 19 minutes and adminstered steroids and other medications on the way to the hospital. Ultimately, Vogel required 10 vials of antivenom. The boy survived, and his father credits keeping Ethan calm and the quick response from medical professionals.
In 2019, a mountain biker was bitten by a rattlesnake while on a ride in Phoenix. The 75-year-old man, Jim Watkins, fell into a bush beside the trail as he tried to unclip from his pedals. He required 14 vials of antivenom and was released after a two-day hospitalization.
Mountain bike-related deaths by any cause are rare, with the majority caused by crashes and/or heart failure. Singletracks tracked reported mountain bike deaths over a five-year period, from 2018 to 2023, and found that none were attributed to wildlife encounters.
0 Comments