Rare Timber Rattlesnake Discovered in Chester County

A timber rattlesnake was recently discovered slithering its way through a residential community of Willistown Township, Chester County. 

According to an Action News 6 report, Wylie Bassill photographed her father and Willistown Township police officers trapping the rattlesnake in a container on Tuesday, July 29, on Frazer Avenue in Malvern.

Initial reports sighted the snake coiled underneath a vehicle. In a video captured by members of the community, the snake can be seen slithering into the street. Neighbors phoned police, who sent officers to capture the reptile.

"They went out and, for lack of a better word, detain the snake and get the snake in a container," said Lt. Stephen Jones with Willistown Township Police in a statement provided to Action News 6.

Chris Urban, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's (PFBC) threatened and endangered species coordinator, said the appearance of the rattler here is rare for the species. While it's found in 51 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, the species is not native to Chester County. According to Urban, there hasn't been one spotted in the area in nearly a century.

How the snake got to Malvern is not clear.

"My guess is somebody probably captured the snake in one of the northern counties and brought it home, and just decided to let it go somewhere. I don't know why, but it's happened before," Urban said in a statement to Action News 6.

Urban noted that venomous snakes don't want to be bothered. If you see one, don't approach it. While calling the police was the right move, he also recommends that people call their regional office of the PFBC directly.

According to the PFBC, the snake captured in Malvern is unreleasable. It will ultimately be used for educational purposes.