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Rattlesnake Sanctuary Planned for Massachusetts Island Has Some
Residents Freaking Out

By Deborah Hastings
1 hour ago

The idea of rattlesnakes slithering around a Massachusetts island in
the state's largest body of water is just plain freaking out some
residents.

"People are afraid that we're going to put snakes in a place of public
use and that they are going to breed like rabbits and spread over the countryside and kill everybody," said Tom French of the Division of
Fisheries and Wildlife, according to The Associated Press.

Read: A Venomous Snake Was Found In a Child's Bed at a Daycare Center

He's directing a project at the 39-square mile Quabbin Reservoir that
would provide a home to venomous timber rattlesnakes whose numbers are dwindling around the state.

There are only about 200 of the indigenous snakes left, according to
French. Deaths caused by humans and dwinding habitats are to blame and
state wildlife officils are concerned the species could disappear
completely.

The island is off limits to humans, though fearful hikers and others
say the snakes could swim away, or slither along two causeways that
run to the island.

Read: King Cobra Snake Missing For a Month is Found in Woman's Dryer

Peter Mallett, a recreational fisherman who lives in New Salem, a town
on the Quabbin’s western shore, opposed the snake project at first,
but changed his mind after digging deeper.

“People are just petrified of snakes,” he said.


http://news.yahoo.com/rattlesnake-sanctuary-planned-massachusetts-island-013500015.html


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