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NORTH COUNTY TIMES (Escondido, California) 02 May 06 Rattlers starting to rove in warm weather (Jo Moreland)
Rancho Bernardo: Two weeks after being bitten on her left ankle by a rattlesnake, 12-year-old Jerianne Young has finally returned to her Rancho Bernardo home.
The 12-year-old honor student and athlete was in the intensive-care unit at Children's Hospital in San Diego until Sunday, recovering after nearly losing her foot because of intense swelling from the bite.
"She came home yesterday," Tammy Young said Monday about her daughter's progress. "She's doing better, able to get herself into a wheelchair. She's still in quite a bit of pain, but we're able to manage that."
Jerianne, a Bernardo Heights Middle School sixth-grader, has advice for other area residents: Watch for rattlers whenever you're outdoors, especially in a natural area.
"They should always be paying attention," Jerianne said. "That one time I wasn't paying attention."
Firefighters and others familiar with snake bites agreed with her recommendation, noting that as usual, the rattlers are starting to come out when the weather warms up.
"We're already starting to get (snake removal) calls," said Poway fire Capt. Tim Carle. "We find 'em three houses deep from the wild land areas, mainly in back yards."
Rancho Santa Fe dispatchers sent North County fire crews to 335 snake removal calls last year, and that doesn't include all the area agencies.
The San Diego division of the California Poison Control System received 10 to 20 snakebite calls last year for this county, and there have been several bites in the last couple of weeks, said Dr. Lee Cantrell, division director.
"In San Diego County, it's pretty much rattlesnake season year round, although they taper off dramatically during the cooler months," Cantrell said.
His recommendations include: be careful around cool, dark areas where snakes like to hide out; don't try to handle snakes; and call 911 right away if bitten.
Steve and Tammy Young said they have always warned their daughters, Jerianne and her 7-year-old sister, Georgia, about rattlesnakes, especially because an undeveloped hill is across the street from their Westwood home.
The family wanted to put the word out for others, even if "just one parent reminds their kid to be careful, and that keeps one kid from being bit and parents not having to go through what we did," Steve Young said.
On April 17, Easter Sunday, Jerianne and her friend, 13-year-old Madison Jones, were chatting as they walked up the hill on a road used to maintain power lines.
Suddenly Madison heard Jerianne screaming.
"I looked down," Madison said. "There was this huge snake curled up. I saw the snake reach out to bite her."
The snake struck Jerianne, a softball, soccer, and basketball player who runs cross country. Her swift reaction either jerked or kicked the snake away. The girls ran for help, Jerianne's ankle area bearing fang marks an inch apart.
The injured girl was taken first to Pomerado Hospital in Poway, then quickly to Children's Hospital.
"Her feet hurt her so bad, both feet," Tammy Young said, recalling those first fearful hours. "I sat at the bottom of her bed and rubbed her feet for hours. Her feet were curled in. I kept thinking, 'We'll get through it. We'll get through it.'"
Dr. Bradley Peterson, Children's Hospital's director of critical care, said Jerianne's snake bite case is among the worst he has ever seen.
Most patients get 12 to 15 vials of antivenin and are home in three days, Peterson said.
Jerianne received 58 vials of antivenin as medical staff dealt with her shock, water that leaked into her lungs, muscle twitching and severe swelling, Peterson said.
The girl's leg and ankle muscles became so swollen that the blood flow was threatened, the doctor said. Incisions were made in Jerianne's leg and ankle to relieve the pressure.
Hospital staff was able to save the foot and Jerianne is now on the mend, working on class assignments at home.
"The care has been excellent," Steve Young said. "She'll be able to get up and walk around with both legs."
Rattlers starting to rove in warm weather

Boy can I attest to that, I have already removed 3 helleri, 3 scutes, 1 cerastes and half a dozen gophers, coachwhips etc in the SF Valley, Simi Valley and Rancho Palos Verdes, I have not even ventured south to San Diego yet. As we speak I am leaving for Lancaster this morning to search for a rattler that bit a dog last night.