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On August 2, ECO LaPoint responded to a residence in the town of Hague, Warren County, for a report of a trapped timber rattlesnake at residence where a family was vacationing. Upon arriving at the home, ECO LaPoint located the snake outside trapped under a tote. Using snake tongs issued by DEC, along with a cloth bag and bucket lid, he safely secured the rattlesnake in the bucket and removed it from the premises.
ECO LaPoint transported the rattlesnake to DEC’s Green Island maintenance facility where it was temporarily held until it could be released to a suitable location. Timber rattlesnakes are a threatened species in New York. For more information visit DEC’s website.
ECO LaPoint with a timber rattlesnake in Warren County/DEC photo
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“Trapped under a tote.” I wish DEC had used a more informative word. Hard not to picture a reusable grocery bag.
We’d actually trapped it under a large translucent plastic container before the DEC got there 🙂
HUGE rattler! Must be plenty to eat. Glad the northern Adirondacks too cold for rattlesnakes (at least for now).
Trapped under a big plastic totem perhaps?
Cool! Glad the vacationers didn’t kill it – although it looks big enough to ride!
“Glad the northern Adirondacks too cold for rattlesnakes”
Not too cold for the emerald ash borer though. Ere long them woods gonna be different what with the Earth cooking and all….maybe in ten years we’ll start seeing rattlers.
I read somewhere that the hills on the NW side of Lake George are the northern limit for Rattlers in NY. Too cold to the north and west.
And that indeed is a big snake.
I’m really glad no one killed this lovely fellow! Not his or her fault that no one understands he or she is fabulous 😀 I choose to believe this is the powers that be reminding these vacationers that vacant 2nd home properties are bad for the local economy. The snake decided to move in. 😉
That’s one mighty snake. The vacationers took appropriate measures to assure that both they and the snake were safe. It does not appear that the home was “vacant” since there were people there vacationing.
FYI, there are rattlesnakes on the West shore of Lake Champlain at least as far north as Willsboro. They are big and melanistic in color. Almost stepped on one hiking out to the Palasades.
Hence Rattlesnake Mountain!
Might this be a record size? NYS DEC site states record length is 74.5″. No weight was listed. Regarding how far north they range, a co-worker who lives near Swanton, VT found one by his mailbox several years ago. Swanton is near Lake Champlain and about 10 miles south of the Canadian border.
“Might this be a record size?”
Perhaps. But may be tough on the person doing the measuring!
Now if only he could catch and relocate the snakes in congress.
Those I wouldn’t relocate, but place in zoos.
And no breeding – Please!
I wish that I could post a photo of a snake held on the same type catch pole as this one, it looks huge. Then the same snake is shown held in a man’s hand & it’s not very big at all. It’s perspective & I suspect that it’s the same here.
That snake is at least twice the height of that trash can.
That is an huge rattle snake holy crap. Ive seen tons of them. Both in the east and out west. Nothing that big though.
Pat B says: ” Swanton is near Lake Champlain and about 10 miles south of the Canadian border.”
Old farm country Swanton is. Typical Vermont rural, spacious, beautiful acreage with a rolling landscape. It’s like going back in time such as many places are up here in the northeast. Yes indeed a large rattler, and yes a beautiful specimen, protected by law in New York state. I know someone who kills them every chance he gets which is every time he sees one on his property.
Dan says: “Now if only he could catch and relocate the snakes in congress.”
Them’s the kind of snakes that need dismembering Dan!
I killed one in the white mountains nh back in the 70’s. 79″ long.That’s the best way to measure them Boreas! Thing was huge! Conservation officer said he was glad I killed it. I asked him what should one do if one is bitten by a timber rattler? He advised placing your head as far between your knees as you possibly can!
I have a timber rattler in my camp at southbay Whitehall NY, he’s approx 5-6 ft and he’s hiding what do I do? Petrified, where can I get help?
Contact the DEC or a local wildlife re-habber ASAP. Don’t be afraid, just give him plenty of space. DON’T KILL HIM!! He’ll be out and about when things warm up and he gets hungry enough. He may have overwintered there and may simply leave on his own.