LAUREL OUTLOOK (Montana) 08 August 07 Third rattlesnake captured in residential area (Larry Tanglen)

Robert Belless captures wild animals when they get close to humans for Montana Wildlife Solutions. After he captures them, he releases them in a more remote area where they aren't as likely to have human contact.

He has recently captured three rattlesnakes in Laurel. The last one he encountered on the 1100 block of Sixth Avenue. “They are around here,” Belless said knowingly. “People need to be aware of their surroundings and report them when they see them.” Belless has also captured rattlesnakes this year on 7th Avenue and West 12 Street.

Belless advised that if you see a rattlesnake, you should call 9-1-1 and report the sighting. Police will dispatch someone to come out and recover the snake.

“If you spot a rattlesnake, keep an eye on it, so when we arrive, we know where to look for it,” he said. The last snake he captured, he released in a rural area near Bridger.

He advised residents to keep their yards cleaned of debris so they don't provide a cool place for the snake to hide during the heat of the day.

Most people encounter snakes in their yards and gardens, but snakes will occasionally enter buildings in search of food. Of the 10 species of snakes found in Montana only the Western rattlesnake is poisonous.

Prairie Rattlesnakes, Crotalus viridis, (Viperidae) have a triangular head, blunt nose, narrow neck, and stout body; they range in length from 15 to 60 inches. The background color above varies from pale green to brown; a series of brown or black blotches edged with a dark and then a light line extends the length of the body.

The blotches often merge into rings on the tail. There are also blotches on the sides. The belly is pale yellow to white and lacks blotches. All rattlesnakes have a heat-sensing pit located between the nostril and the eye. The fangs are hollow and hinged, allowing them to be folded back against the roof of the mouth. The tail ends in a rattle that helps warn potential predators of the snake's presence. No other snake in Montana has rattles.

Human deaths in untreated cases have occurred 18 hours to five days after the bite. Western rattlesnakes favor open and arid country, but are also found in ponderosa pine stands and mixed grass-coniferous forests. They are more likely to be encountered on south-facing slopes and in areas with rock outcrops. They are most active at temperatures around 82 to 88 degrees.
Third rattlesnake captured in residential area

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