A man was bitten by a rattlesnake near California State University Channel Islands on Sunday, marking the sixth such incident reported in Ventura County in less than a month, according to fire department officials.

Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department, confirmed that paramedics responded to the call on Sunday. The victim reported being bitten by a rattlesnake in the area near the university campus.

The recent incident brings the total number of rattlesnake bites in the county to six within approximately four weeks. This figure represents two-thirds of the total number of people bitten by rattlesnakes in the county during all of 2024.

Two fatalities from rattlesnake bites have been reported in southern California so far this year. Fire officials attribute the increased activity to warmer spring weather, which has brought reptiles out onto trails earlier than typical seasonal patterns.

Rattlesnake encounters typically increase during warmer months when the reptiles become more active and people spend more time outdoors on hiking trails and in natural areas.