May have swum Lake Champlain, authorities say 

By VDC staff

A timber rattlesnake found in Shelburne may have made an unusual journey across Lake Champlain from New York before being captured by Vermont wildlife officials.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department said in a recent Facebook post that timber rattlesnakes are native to Vermont but are state-endangered, legally protected and currently restricted to western Rutland County. Populations also live in similar rocky, forested habitat across Lake Champlain in New York.

State officials said Vermont’s herpetologist believes the Shelburne snake may have dispersed from a New York population and swum across the lake.

The theory is supported by where the snake was discovered. Both the Shelburne rattlesnake and another rattlesnake found in Grand Isle last year were located along the Lake Champlain shoreline, according to Fish & Wildlife.

Officials said other explanations remain possible. The snake could have been inadvertently transported in a vehicle or boat from another location in Vermont or another state. It also could have been an illegally kept pet that escaped or was intentionally released.

The rattlesnake was safely captured by a Fish & Wildlife biologist and game warden and will be returned to suitable habitat in the wild.

Officials used specialized equipment, including a snake hook or tongs, to place the rattlesnake into a bucket. They then used a properly sized tube to safely restrain and handle the venomous snake.

Fish & Wildlife advises anyone who encounters a rattlesnake to stay back and keep children and pets away. People should take clear photographs if they can do so safely and contact the department for guidance. Sightings can also be reported to the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas.

Timber rattlesnake encounters remain rare in Vermont, particularly outside the species’ known range in western Rutland County.