A rattlesnake hiding beneath an Amazon delivery package bit a toddler in California, adding to what wildlife officials describe as an unusually active snake season across the United States. The incident highlights a broader surge in snake bites this summer, with California reported to have already exceeded its typical yearly number of fatal bites, prompting warnings for residents to be cautious around parcels, gardens and other outdoor spots where snakes may shelter from the heat.

The case was one of several recent serious snake bite incidents cited by Fox News, including a man who needed 36 vials of antivenom after a Western rattlesnake bite and a two-year-old girl in Colorado who was airlifted to hospital following a snake bite. Details on the California toddler's exact age, location and current condition were not fully specified in the available report, though the incident underscores officials' concerns about rising human-snake encounters this season.