Snake sightings unusually high this year, authorities say

In Animal Control Officer Joy Falk’s 23 years with the city she has never seen the number of snake calls she has been receiving.

“This is completely atypical,” Falk said. “I had six calls for rattlesnakes in one day.”

Rattlesnakes, king snakes and gopher snakes make up the majority of Falk’s calls.

From 1 foot long to 5 feet long, snake sightings are being reported all over the city.

A 4-foot king snake proved to be a fascinating sight for restaurant-goers on the 300 block of Forest Tuesday.

The snake was relaxing in a plant box in front of a parking meter, the restaurant’s manager said.

The king snake is not harmful to humans and should be respected as a natural enemy of the poisonous rattlesnake, Falk said.

According to Sean Bush, an emergency physician at the Loma Linda Medical Center, the number of reported snake bites in Southern California is easily on pace to set a new record.

With 25 victims of rattlesnake bites treated this year, the Loma Linda center treats only the most severe cases from all over Southern California and beyond.

“A busy year for us is 50,” Bush said. “Because this is already the beginning of the season, it looks like we’re going to easily go past that number.”

Bush had the unfortunate experience of treating his own son for a rattlesnake bite last week, he said.

“If you’re bitten, the best thing you can do is call 911,” Bush said.

In 25 years of records for the Loma Linda Medical Center, Bush said there has only been one fatality from a snake bite.