A Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputy is recovering after he was bitten by a rattlesnake while on a marijuana eradication assignment, according to authorities.
The deputy was bitten 1pm June 6 in a rural area of San Antonio Valley Road, east of Mount Hamilton in unincorporated Morgan Hill, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. Deputies assigned to the sheriff’s Marijuana Eradication Team were conducting an operation in the area at the time.
One of the deputies was bitten on his leg by a rattlesnake while hiking through the remote area, authorities said. A CALSTAR ambulance was dispatched due to the terrain and location of the call. After he was bitten, the deputy and his team hiked about one mile back to their vehicle before driving to the helicopter landing zone.
About 1:49pm, CALSTAR arrived and airlifted the deputy via helicopter to a local hospital. The deputy is in stable condition and is being treated by medical staff.
The MET team was initially scouting the area for possible marijuana grows and found infrastructures of a recently used grow, according to the sheriff’s press release. They located a large amount of trash, camping supplies, hundreds of yards of irrigation pipe and large areas of trees and brush that had been cut down and removed to make space for the garden.
The press release adds, “As a safety reminder to all, rattlesnakes are known to be out more frequently during hot summer days. Be cautious and aware of where you are stepping during hikes and wear protective clothing.”
