Rattlesnake lurking in leaves bites 72-year-old on porch, Arizona officials say
A rattlesnake was lurking in leaves when it bit a 72-year-old woman at her Arizona home, fire officials said.
Firefighters responded to the area at about 11:50 a.m. June 24 in Sahuarita, the Santa Rita Fire District said in a Facebook post.
Sahuarita is about a 25-mile drive south from Tucson.
The snake struck “unexpectedly” once the woman stepped on her front porch, fire officials said.
It was hiding in leaves near the door.
The woman was taken to a hospital in Tucson where she was listed in stable condition, fire officials said.
Firefighters caught the rattlesnake for researchers, officials said.
The University of Arizona has a project focusing on “venom analysis and improving treatment protocols for rattlesnake bites,” officials said.
It hasn’t been determined if the university will include this snake in the study.
But the Arizona Poison & Drug Information Center took a venom sample from the snake, photos show.
Fire officials warn the public to be cautious and clean up debris around homes as the warmer months bring out more rattlesnakes.
What to do if a snake bites you
Venomous snakes bite more than 7,000 people each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“About 5 of those people die,” the CDC said. “The number of deaths would be much higher if people did not seek medical care.”
Rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths and coral snakes are all venomous snakes that live in the U.S.
If you see a snake, back away slowly and don’t touch it. Here’s what the CDC says you should do if a snake bites you:
Try to remember the color and shape of the snake. It could help with treating the bite.
Stay calm and still to slow down the spread of venom.
Seek medical care as soon as possible.
Apply first aid if you can’t get to the hospital quickly.
Wash the wound with warm, soapy water.
Cover the bite with a clean cloth or dressing.
Don’t slash the wound with a knife or try to suck out venom.
Don’t apply ice to the wound.
This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 11:18 AM with the headline "Rattlesnake lurking in leaves bites 72-year-old on porch, Arizona officials say."
