State proposing rattlesnake habitat for island at Quabbin Reservoir

State proposing rattlesnake habitat for island at Quabbin Reservoir

Click on above RED Highlight for a Video

The Quabbin Reservoir is a popular spot for outdoor activity, but it could become the future home for an endangered rattlesnake.

The states Department of Fisheries and Wildlife wants to create a rattlesnake island - a safe place and home to the venomous Timber rattlesnakes.

Timber rattlesnakes have lived in Massachusetts long before the arrival of the Pilgrims and could soon be making a home at the Quabbin

"'[It] basically stems from our desire and we believe their need to have one place where the snakes are protected from people," said Thomas French, a specialist from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

French added that the state is looking at several possible sites in the Quabbin, one of those being Mount Zion.  The island is off-limits to visitors, but there are areas for shoreline fishing and hiking trails located here.

"I'm not against this proposal.  I want to know more about the details," said J.R. Greene.

J.R. Greene remembers when the state reintroducing bald eagles as an endangered species to the Quabbin Reservoir back in the 1980's.  He said that the snakes are another story.

"It's the nature of the snakes themselves that causes concern because they do bite and have venomous capabilities," Greene explained.

While the island is off-limits, Greene said that the snakes can swim to shore or even crawl down causeways - something that French said is not in their nature.

"Any suggestion that they would get off the island and cause any  form any level of public safety is nonsensical," French noted.

French said that he is surprised by the public's reaction to the proposed plan and maintains that these snakes have been treated unfairly since the arrival of the Pilgrims.

"It is interesting to me that there is any kind of objection or outcry because they are already close to people and the public doesn't know it, and if we did this, they would never see one," French explained.

"It would be considered another instance of the whole idea of the Quabbin - Boston pushing something on people out here, we are going to do this it doesn't matter if you like it or not," Greene said.

The plan is in the early stages.  French said that they would need to start a population of these snakes and that it would take several years before that can take place

Yes the Timber Rattlesnakes have lived in Massachusetts long before the arrival of the Pilgrims and could soon be making a home at the Quabbin. Source :Mary Cate Mannion Western Mass News