Linda Martin of Stevenson Ranch was bitten on the toe by a rattlesnake while inspecting her roses; security footage captured the incident. Venom symptoms appeared within 30–45 seconds, and poor cell reception prevented successful 911 calls. Her husband drove her to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, where she received antivenom. California Poison Control reports rising rattlesnake-bite calls and expects about a 20% increase this year.
Rattlesnake Bites California Gardener While She Tends Roses — Poor Cell Reception Hampered 911 Call
Image Credit: CBS News/YouTube.
Linda Martin of Stevenson Ranch says tending her roses is "therapy" — a routine that nearly turned deadly when a rattlesnake bit her toe while she was checking her flowers. Home security footage captured the frightening encounter and the rapid escalation of symptoms.
Martin told CBS News that she felt a sharp, burning pain after lifting a bush and then saw the rattler. Within about 30–45 seconds she began to feel tingling in her fingertips; the sensation quickly moved into her jaw, cheeks and tongue. She went inside and lay on the floor to call 911, but multiple attempts failed because her phone would not connect.
After three unsuccessful calls, Martin’s husband told her to get in the car. The couple drove to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital — an estimated 10-minute trip — where she was treated with antivenom. Martin later said, "Had my husband not been home, and I was here alone, I don't know what would have happened," and said she is now considering campaigning for better cell coverage and even getting a landline.
Rising Rattlesnake Calls and a Stark Reminder
Lee Cantrell, director of the California Poison Control System, told CBS the center recorded a little more than 400 rattlesnake-bite calls last year and logged 250 calls in the first six months of 2026. Cantrell expects about a 20% increase in calls this year. A separate incident in Montana, reported by KTVQ, involved a man who required 24 vials of antivenom and stayed two days in the hospital.
These episodes underscore how quickly rattlesnake strikes can become dangerous and how unpredictable they often are — sometimes occurring without warning or sound.
Safety Takeaways
Experts recommend the following precautions: wear sturdy shoes and gloves when gardening in snake-prone areas, inspect around shrubs and hard-to-see spots before reaching in, keep a charged phone and an emergency plan, and consider a landline or signal boosters if cell coverage is unreliable. If bitten, seek medical help immediately — antivenom is most effective when administered promptly.
Sources: CBS News, KTVQ, California Poison Control System.
Help us improve.
