ONEONTA DAILY STAR (New York) 11 August 05 Man reports rattlesnake in Oneonta - Species not seen in area since mid-1980s, biologist says (Jake Palmateer)
A local population of timber rattlesnakes thought to be extinct since the mid-1980s may still be alive and slithering.
An Oneonta man said his brother found a rattler coiled up in a garage at the Knapp family property on the corner of Hemlock and West Davenport roads on Tuesday.
Glenn Knapp said his brother Louis decided to let the 2-foot-long snake slither away.
Oneonta is on the northern fringe of the timber rattlesnake’s range, but a wildlife biologist from the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Stamford office said the serpents are thought to no longer live in the Oneonta area.
Scott VanArsdale said wildlife biologists have to be skeptical of strange wildlife sightings, but he said it was possible Louis Knapp saw a rattlesnake.
Louis Knapp does not have a listed phone number and could not be reached for comment.
A large hill above the Knapp property lies between the Susquehanna River and Charlotte Creek and features some rock outcroppings that, according to the DEC, are ideal rattler habitat.
VanArsdale said the hill has been the site of rattlesnake dens in the past, and if there were snakes there now, it would be good news for conservationists.
"No snakes have been reported since the mid-1980s," VanArsdale said. "We would certainly be thrilled."
Glenn Knapp, who grew up on the property where the snake was found, said rattlesnakes were once common in the area and used to come down off the hill above his parents’ farm, especially during dry conditions.
"We always called it Rattlesnake Mountain," he said.
Knapp recalled having to take precautions when working the family farm several decades ago.
"We used to have to roll the (hay) bales over because of the rattlesnakes," Knapp said. "They have a very distinct rattle. If you hear this, it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up."
Knapp said he was a little concerned rattlesnakes might make their way to nearby housing developments and homes.
Timber rattlesnakes, which have an average lifespan of 16 to 22 years, can grow more than 5 feet long. The snake has a triangular head and rough skin and can have different color patterns.
The snake is active between late April to mid-October but hibernates in dens, often with other snakes, to survive through the winter.
Females give birth to an average of nine snakes every three to five years.
Knapp said that when he was growing up, there were a number of rattlesnake dens in an area on the hill known as Indian Ovens.
Indian Ovens, he said, is an area of rock outcroppings and small caves visible from state Route 7 and Interstate 88.
There are several confirmed rattlesnake dens in southern Delaware County, and people in those areas should be aware, VanArsdale said. "It is a good idea to be careful down there," he said.
Anyone bitten by a rattlesnake should seek medical attention immediately, VanArsdale said.
The bite of the timber rattlesnake can be fatal if left untreated, but there have been no deaths from rattlesnakes in the wild in New York for several decades.
According to the DEC, rattlesnakes only attack when provoked and should be left alone.
VanArsdale said rattlesnakes are an endangered species in New York, and it is illegal to kill them.
The snakes also are found in other areas of the Southern Tier and the Catskill Mountains and in the eastern Adirondacks.
Man reports rattlesnake in Oneonta - Species not seen in area since mid-1980s