Police dog bitten/snake ID needed

[Jeff B]

Good thing your fellow deputy knew you were a snake guy and called you first, rather than shoot the snake and ask questions later, huh? Which is what I would guess most people do when they see a big snake if they don't have someone that knows snakes to call, they would just kill it first then try to figure out what it is, sad but true, however this story had a happy ending. Great job Steve! By the way I am pretty certain that bull snakes are protected in Iowa, so it would actually be illegal to kill it or capture and even disturb it, but I am not sure most people are aware of that and probably a lot of bull snakes are killed in Iowa every year mistaken as rattlesnakes.

[infernalis]

probably a lot of bull snakes are killed in Iowa every year mistaken as rattlesnakes.

Ironically here in NY it is illegal to kill a rattlesnake.

A local den site near my home is fenced with heavy chain link fencing to keep people away from the dens, To protect the snakes.

The D.O.T. even closed a highway rest stop because gravid females were basking on the asphalt.!

[ssssnakeluvr]

Ironically here in NY it is illegal to kill a rattlesnake.

A local den site near my home is fenced with heavy chain link fencing to keep people away from the dens, To protect the snakes.

The D.O.T. even closed a highway rest stop because gravid females were basking on the asphalt.!

thats great!!! snake dens are protected by law here too.....but unfortunately it isn't working. I am sure DWR would jump up and protect a rattlesnake den, but they let a garter snake den be pretty much destroyed.... also, it's illegal to kill reptiles in Utah, with the exception of rattlesnakes in your own yard as a public safety issue.