Two Commerce City police officers have been dubbed “rattlesnake wranglers” after capturing a snake outside a high school and releasing it back into the wild, according to the department.
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“As temperatures are continuing to heat up, these Colorado natives are emerging from hibernation and scaring the bejesus out of us!” the Commerce City Police Department wrote on Facebook. “This slithery guy or gal was outside Adams City High Ssssssschool when it was discovered by a passer-by who called us to humanely relocate it to somewhere less terrifying.”
A video posted by the department shows the snake curled up on the floor of the backseat of a police cruiser. Two officers are seen using a looped tool to pull the snake from the car, relocating it to a field away from the school.
Colorado’s rattlesnakes started waking up for the season in March, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. They retreat to their dens in winter.
Anyone who encounters a rattlesnake should remain calm and give it plenty of space, wildlife officials said. Hikers should also let others nearby know they’ve spotted a snake.
“While you’re hiking, keep an eye out along the trail, including around large rocks and spots where a snake might be sunning itself,” wildlife officials wrote on social media. “Keep any children close by and don’t let them climb over rocks or through areas with brush. Keep dogs on a short leash and keep their noses out of holes, rock piles and thick brush.”
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Rattlesnakes are more likely to be heard than seen, wildlife officials said. If someone hears one, they should freeze until they spot it so they don’t accidentally wander closer. That will also help make the person appear less threatening to the snake, according to the agency.
People should stay at least five feet from rattlesnakes, which can strike at a distance up to half their body length, according to the agency. Anyone bitten should call 911 immediately.
Rattlesnake bites are usually not fatal, but can be very painful and should always be considered a medical emergency, wildlife officials said.
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