Conservation Officers Investigate Killing of Eastern Timber Rattlesnake

On July 4th, NYS Environmental Conservation Officers Nathan Doig and Dustin Osborne received an anonymous tip that someone intentionally killed an eastern timber rattlesnake in the town of Hancock in Delaware County, NY.

The Officers reported that they gathered additional information and discovered the subject also skinned and butchered the snake with a plan to eat it.

A few days later, on July 7, ECO Osborne interviewed the subject and recovered the remains of a three-foot timber rattlesnake killed by a BB gun on the fourth of July. The Officer confiscated the remains and ticketed the individual for unlawfully killing protected wildlife.

Timber rattlesnakes are venomous pit vipers, native to New York State. They are considered a threatened species and are protected by State law.

Timber rattlesnakes seldom display aggression unless defending themselves. The public is reminded to leave the snakes alone and observe from a safe distance.

You can read more about New York’s rattlers here.