What Happened
A 78-year-old woman died after being bitten by a snake three times while walking on rural property in Mendocino County, officials say.
Key Details
The incident is the third fatal snake bite in California this year, with an unseasonable weather pattern prompting rattlesnakes to emerge from their burrows in search of food and mates.
Why It Matters
The warmer temperatures have also spurred residents to head outdoors, increasing the chances of run-ins with snakes. There were two snake-related fatalities and several reports of snakebites in California last month.
What Happens Next
A forensic pathologist conducted a postmortem examination as part of the sheriff's investigation, determining the preliminary cause of death was disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and snake envenomation from snake bites.