Rattlesnake sightings in Westmoreland County spur police to alert residents
SEWARD, Pa. (KDKA) -- Police in Westmoreland County are alerting residents to recent rattlesnake sightings.
The St. Clair Township Police Department shared a photo on Faebook of a rattlesnake recently taken by an officer on State Route 711, close to Sugar Run Road in the Seward area. Police said they believe the rattlesnakes are making their way "down off the mountain."
Police are asking residents to leave rattlesnakes alone. If you do see one, call 911 and a conservation officer from the Fish and Boat Commission will come take care of it.
The venomous snakes emerge from their dens in April and remain active through October. Mike Parker, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's communications director, said timber rattlesnakes might venture into new areas in the warmer weather.
"If there's not a lot of rainfall, there's not a lot of water available for the rattlesnake, or the food that the rattlesnakes are looking for. Then that's the reason why the rattlesnakes may be moving around a little bit," Parker said.
Parker said the timber rattlesnake population is doing well in Pennsylvania. He added that they're valuable to our ecosystem and very misunderstood.
"They're normally very docile and don't really want anything to do with," Parker said. "With humans, or most, or our pets, they're not really much of a threat unless you threaten them."
Rattlesnakes are protected in Pennsylvania and can't be legally captured or killed without permits.
"It is illegal in Pennsylvania to simply kill a snake, and there are fines and penalties associated with that," Parker said.
How to avoid rattlesnake bites
Experts say bites from Pennsylvania's timber rattlesnakes are rare and if you run into one, it'll be more likely to move, hide or issue a warning buzz to avoid confrontation. Rattlesnakes are more likely to strike in defense when cornered, surprised or touched.
Most people bitten by venomous snakes were either handling one or trying to pick it up, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says.
If you're in timber rattlesnake territory during the active season from April to October, the DCNR said "common-sense precautions" will help minimize serious encounters. Look for rattlesnakes before you sit down -- reach into, over or under brush, logs or rocks.
To make your property less welcoming to snakes, clear debris where they can find shade and remove their favorite food: rodents.
If you run into a rattlesnake, keep a minimum 3-foot distance. And never try to pick one up, even if it looks dead.
"The best thing to do is just let that snake move along," Parker said.
However, there are situations when you should call a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission conservation officer for help. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission works with state and federal partners to manage the timber rattlesnakes' priority habitats.
"Just the sighting of a snake does not ward a call to the Fish and Boat Commission," Parker said. "Only if you feel that that snake is a danger to yourself or others, and then we'll try to come out there and remove that venomous snake and rehome it back where it's supposed to be out in the wilderness."
What to do if you're bitten by a rattlesnake
If someone is bitten by a rattlesnake, immobilize the affected area and get the patient to the nearest medical facility.
Bites from timber rattlesnakes are rarely lethal to humans if medical attention is promptly sought, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission says.
