A complaint about an apartment in Wawarsing, New York, led to legal action after the discovery of two timber rattlesnakes.
Here's what to know
According to Times Union, a state Environmental Conservation officer went to the apartment on July 28 to follow up on a complaint. They found a live snake in a bucket outside.
The householder then confessed to catching the snake and storing the severed head of another rattlesnake in his freezer.
The Catskills man was issued tickets and is set to appear in Wawarsing Town Court for taking or possessing a threatened species.
The timber rattlesnake was released back into the wild, as it has been a protected species in New York since 1983. Habitat loss and human-caused deaths led to a 50% to 75% decline.
More background
This incident follows another with a Burmese python on a Coney Island boardwalk on July 12.
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A Department of Environmental Conservation officer ticketed a man who was displaying the snake. Burmese pythons are illegal to own in New York, and the snake was taken to the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
What can be done?
A venomous snake kept in a bucket outside an apartment is a public safety concern for neighbors, children, pets, and emergency responders who may have no idea the animal is there.
People who come across a rattlesnake or other protected animal should leave it alone.
If the animal appears to be in a dangerous location or near homes, contact wildlife authorities or other trained professionals. Venomous snakes should not be handled by untrained individuals, even if the intention is to help.
Knowing which species are protected, learning how to respond to wildlife encounters, and respecting habitat boundaries can help reduce conflicts before they begin.
Where can I learn more?
Snake encounters come with safety concerns — especially when venomous snakes turn up near homes or schools.
• Commerce City officers could not get a rattlesnake out of a patrol car after removing it from near a school.
• In Colorado, a snake catcher found a rattlesnake under a leaky spigot that went berserk.
• In Australia, a homeowner killed a red-bellied black snake before the snake catcher arrived.
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