A man from Idaho needed to receive 54 rounds of antivenom from two different hospitals after being bitten by a rattlesnake in California, according to his GoFundMe.
Chris Howarth, a husband and father of three, was visiting his parents in California with his family when he was bit twice by a rattlesnake in his parents’ garden, the GoFundMe stated. He was hospitalized for six days at the Oroville Hospital in Oroville, California, where he received 36 rounds of antivenom before being airlifted around 185 miles to Stanford Medical Center, where he received another 18 rounds, per Los Angeles local news outlet KTLA.
A GoFundMe was created to help support Howarth and his family as he recovers, and it has raised $4,507 of its $8,000 goal.
The bite comes after three people have died after being bitten by rattlesnakes in California, according to the California Poison Control System (CPCS).
USA TODAY has reached out to the organizer of Howarth’s GoFundMe for more information.
Close up of young Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus helleri) coiled in the middle of a paved road, Angles National Forest, Los Angeles county, California.
Howarth’s wife thought he was joking
“I got bit twice,” Howarth told SFGATE. “And one of the bites, where it was was kind of a shallow, but the other one got my vein.”
He was bitten on his right leg, according to the news outlet.
Howarth said that his wife, Jenny, thought he was joking, but she and their children started “freaking out” when he showed them his right leg, where he was bitten.
Jenny drove her husband to Oroville Hospital, which was a 15-minute drive from his parents’ house, according to SFGATE. He began showing symptoms by the time he arrived at the hospital.
Snake bites increasing in California
The CPCS reports an increase in snake encounters in California in 2026, with three fatalities reported so far.
“The number of bites and fatalities this early in the year underscores the importance of awareness and prevention,” Dr. Rais Vohra, the medical director for the Fresno/Madera Division of CPCS, said in a statement.
On average, only one rattlesnake-related death is reported in California each year,
The increase is due to a heatwave that occurred in California in March, which made rattlesnakes more active this season, according to KTLA.
Preventing rattlesnake encounters
People want to avoid rattlesnakes, and rattlesnakes want to avoid people as much as possible, according to CPCS. But encounters can happen.
To avoid being bitten while outdoors, the agency recommends people hike with a buddy and stick to clearly marked trails, keep away from tall grass and bushes, wear sturdy boots or shoes and long pants while outdoors, and in the case of rattlesnakes, avoid wearing earphones so you can hear the rattling warning sounds the venomous snakes make.
If you do run into a rattlesnake, slowly back away and turn around.
If you or your pet is bitten, call 911 and seek medical attention immediately.
Do NOT do the following, according to CPCS:
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Take any medicines or drink alcoholic or caffeinated drinks
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Cut or slice into or around the bite
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Attempt to suck out the snake venom
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Tie a tourniquet to restrict blood flow
Instead, remain calm and call 911 and the Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. If your pet was bitten, take them to a veterinarian immediately.
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at JGomez@usatodayco.comThis story has been updated to add video.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man bit by rattlesnake in California, requires 54 rounds of antivenom