Female Hiker Bitten by Fire Ants on Calif. Trail Is Airlifted to the Hospital After Suffering Allergic Reaction
Female Hiker Bitten by Fire Ants on Calif. Trail Is Airlifted to the Hospital After Suffering Allergic Reaction
Clare FisherThu, March 5, 2026 at 10:03 AM UTC
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Montecito Fire had to airlift the hiker to the hospitalCredit: Montecito Fire
A female hiker had to be airlifted to the hospital after suffering an allergic reaction while walking in Montecito, California.
At around 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 3, Montecito Fire Service responded to Lower Tangerine Falls at the West Fork of the Cold Spring Trail after receiving reports of an injured hiker, per a news release shared by the fire service on Facebook.
According to the fire service, the female hiker suffered an “allergic reaction after coming into contact with fire ants” on the trail.
The release notes that, as well as firefighters, the Santa Barbara Search and Rescue team members began hiking up to the woman’s position on Lower Tangerine Falls.
Fire AntCredit: Getty
The woman was rescued by Santa Barbara Air Support Unit 308, who lowered a rescuer to hoist the woman out. She was subsequently airlifted to the hospital for “further medical treatment.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, fire ant bites happen when “a certain type of venomous ant stings.”
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The stings cause a “burning sensation” and “itchy welts,” and while they typically can be treated at home, some patients can suffer “life-threatening” allergic reactions. These reactions include dizziness, a drop in blood pressure, loss of conciousness and cardiac arrest. However, the clinic notes that this is rare.
In a January interview with Seth Meyers, actress Ali Larter recalled being bitten by fire ants while filming her Paramount+ show, Landman.
Fire AntCredit: Getty
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While filming a scene barefoot with costar Billy Bob Thornton in a "wide open field,” Larter remembers feeling, “something crawling between my toes."
That "something" turned out to be "fire ants biting my toes," she told host Seth Meyers. After confirming that she got "welts" from the creatures, she laughed, "This show takes a toll on this bod."
PEOPLE has reached out to Montecito Fire for an update, but didn't immediately receive a response
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
