SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — A Southern California family is sharing a terrifying ordeal after their 3-year-old daughter was bitten by a rattlesnake hidden beneath an Amazon package just outside their front door, sending the child to intensive care and highlighting growing concerns over increased snake activity across the region.
The young girl, Addy, was rushed to the hospital after the bite and spent two days in a pediatric intensive care unit receiving multiple doses of antivenom. Her parents are now speaking publicly in hopes of warning other families about the hidden danger of rattlesnakes, especially during the summer months.
Toddler Bitten While Picking Up Package
According to Addy’s father, Manuel Barajas, the incident happened when his wife told their daughter that an Amazon package had been delivered and tossed over the front gate into the yard.
Excited to open what she believed was a gift, the 3-year-old ran outside without noticing a Southern Pacific rattlesnake concealed beneath the brown padded envelope. As she reached down to pick up the package, the snake struck her left hand.
Barajas said his wife immediately rushed Addy toward a nearby grocery store parking lot, where they met paramedics before she was transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment.
Child Spent Two Days in Intensive Care
Doctors administered Addy’s first dose of antivenom before transferring her to another hospital equipped with a pediatric intensive care unit.
The toddler remained in the ICU for two days while receiving two additional doses of antivenom. Her father said the quick medical response played a crucial role in her recovery.
“She’s doing great now. She’s, I want to say, about 70% recovered,” Barajas told KTLA. “She’s still bruised on her left hand where she was bitten. Her spirits are high, her demeanor is great, but she keeps asking why she was bitten by a snake.”
Rattlesnake Bites Rising Across Southern California
The frightening incident comes as experts report an increase in rattlesnake encounters across Southern California.
As of early July, officials had recorded nearly 250 rattlesnake bites and three fatalities across the region. Wildlife experts believe an unusually warm March contributed to increased rattlesnake activity by bringing the reptiles out earlier than normal.
The recent surge has prompted renewed warnings for residents to remain cautious around yards, hiking trails, and outdoor spaces where snakes may seek shade beneath objects such as rocks, boxes, or delivery packages.
Family Shares Story to Raise Awareness
Barajas said his family decided to share Addy’s experience to encourage parents to stay alert and to understand which nearby hospitals are equipped to treat pediatric snakebite emergencies.
He hopes other families will inspect outdoor areas carefully before allowing children to play or retrieve deliveries left outside their homes.
A GoFundMe campaign has also been launched to help the family manage significant medical expenses and lost income while Addy continues her recovery.
Although the experience has been traumatic, her parents say they are thankful their daughter is healing and hope her story reminds others that hidden dangers can exist even just steps from the front door.
What are your thoughts on this frightening incident? Have you ever encountered a rattlesnake in your neighborhood? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
