Rattlesnake illegally shot and killed in Delaware County

HANCOCK, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — On July 4, Environmental Conservation Officers with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation received a tip that a person had intentionally shot and killed a timber rattlesnake in Hancock in Delaware County.

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The officers then discovered the person skinned and butchered the snake with plans to eat it.

On July 7, one of the officers found the person, interviewed them and found the remains of a three-foot rattlesnake that was killed by a BB gun.

Officers confiscated the remains and ticketed the person for unlawfully killing protected wildlife.

Timber rattlesnakes are native to New York State and are considered a threatened species protected by state law.

Photo courtesy of the NYSDEC.

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