Unusual rattlesnake sighting surprises residents in Chester County neighborhood

WILLISTOWN TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- A timber rattlesnake found slithering through a residential area of Willistown Township, Chester County, surprised neighbors and local police

Wylie Bassill snapped a picture of her father and Willistown Township police officers trapping the rattlesnake in a large container Tuesday night on Frazer Avenue in Malvern.

"It's pretty crazy, I will say that," Bassill said. "The police were great, though. They held it down with a piece of wood and then roped it and got it into that Tupperware container."

The snake was initially spotted coiled beneath a car. In a video taken by neighbors, it's seen slithering into the street. Police were called and eventually captured 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.

"I've been here 23 years and I believe that's the first sighting of a rattlesnake that I've heard of in this area," he added.

Officers were later notified, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission took possession of the snake on Wednesday.

According to Chris Urban, the PFBC's Threatened and Endangered Species Coordinator, the timber rattlesnake is found in 51 of the Commonwealth's 67 counties, but Chester County isn't one of them. Urban says records indicate one hasn't been spotted in the area in around 100 years.

Exactly how the snake got to Malvern remains a mystery.

"It's way out of range for where these animals occur in the state," Urban said.

"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," he added.

Urban says the venomous snakes are docile and don't want to be bothered. If you see one, give it space. He says calling the police was the right move by neighbors, but also recommends calling the regional office of the Pennsylvania Boat & Fish Commission directly.

"We train for scenarios, but not this scenario, but our officers did take action and make sure everyone was safe out there," Lt. Jones said.

The Pennsylvania Boat and Fish Commission said the snake is considered unreleasable and will eventually be used for education.