WINONA, Minn. — The Winna police dispatcher took a fourth rattlesnake call of the season. A handler was dispatched to the 1300 block of Wincrest Drive west of Garvin Heights Vineyards. The snake was corralled and relocated far away.
Rattler profile
Timber rattlers are southeast Minnesota’s only venomous snake. The region’s only other native venomous snake, now thought extinct, is the eastern massasauga rattler. It began dying out as settlers cleared forests and prairies for farming in the 1850s. Timber rattlers, however, have endured. They typically give birth to nine babies. It means if you see one, there may be more around. Some rattler species have a range of only 200 feet. Others migrate farther from their hibernation dens.
Close encounters
If you encounter a rattlesnake, keep a distance of at least 10 feet. Rattlesnakes can strike a distance of about half their body length. Slowly back away. Avoid sudden movements. Don’t provoke or handle the snake. If bitten, seek immediate medical attention.