Rattlesnake Rescue in Delaware County

HANCOCK — On July 25, ECO Osborne responded to reports of a timber rattlesnake stuck in a garage in the town of Hancock. Officer Osborne located the snake tangled in black mesh netting and hanging from the wall of the garage. The ECO successfully moved the snake and mesh outdoors, cut away the mesh with scissors while controlling the snake’s head with a snake hook, and released the reptile unharmed back into the wild and away from the residence. ECO Osborne is a member of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement Wildlife Response Team and is equipped with appropriate snake gear for a variety of potential encounters. 

Timber rattlesnakes are venomous pit vipers, native to New York State. These snakes are generally found in small, localized areas and are considered a threatened species protected by State law. Timber rattlesnakes seldom display aggression unless in defense. The public is reminded to leave snakes alone, observe them from a safe distance, and call ECOs if they need a snake removed.