Timber Rattlesnake – 9/28/24
Observer: Elizabeth James
Observation Date: 9/28/24
Observation Time: afternoon
Observation Location: Bishop Road
Common Name: Timber Rattlesnake
Scientific Name: Crotalus horridus
Comments: These mild-mannered, venomous, and very rare snakes are listed as endangered in Massachusetts. Please help protect them by maintaining a safe distance. That should not be hard to do, given that rattlesnakes give fair warning before they strike. This one was gently removed from the road by a police officer with a special snake pole.
Rattlesnakes live in rocky dens. On cool days when the sun is shining, they come out to bask on the warm rocks. In summer they migrate down to wetlands where they fatten up on rodents and other small prey. This seasonal migration puts them at risk of being run over when they cross roads, which is one reason they are so rare. This one was probably warming itself on the asphalt, and might have been run over had the officer not rescued it.
According to Tom Palmer’s excellent history of rattlesnakes in New England called Landscape with Reptile, there has never been a verifiable death from a rattlesnake bite in New England.
- First offense: A fine of at least $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both
- Second or subsequent offense: A fine of at least $5,000, up to 180 days in jail, or both
- Civil assessments: Up to $10,000 for each violation
More Information: Mass.gov
