Commerce City police help wrangle rattlesnake in driveway

Commerce City police helped return a surly rattlesnake to the wild this month after a resident detected the venomous reptile coiled in their home s driveway In body-worn-camera video included in a Commerce City Police Department social media post the officer uses a catch pole to pick up the snake which rattles and tries to lash out as he carries it to a nearby field Related Articles Arvada bat is Jefferson County s first rabies matter of Colorado Parks and Wildlife kills wolf linked to livestock attacks on Western Slope Here little kitty Bobcat surprises Jeffco woman in her living room Colorado wolves extend territory toward state s southern confines Man dogs attacked by moose with calves near Woodland Park Police spokesperson Joanna Small explained no one was hurt during the encounter on the night of May although a person was bitten in recent months while using a local trail We ve now had two instances in recent weeks where there s been human contact with a rattlesnake she commented People should just be aware that they re out there and they re native to Colorado Colorado is home to three species of rattlesnake named for the noisy appendages at the ends of their tails that vibrate to warn prospective predators Although the snakes prefer to hide or scare away humans people who get too close may suffer a painful bite carrying venom that can damage muscle tissue and skin Hikers on Colorado trails should look where they are reaching and stepping to avoid provoking a rattlesnake and anyone who believes they have been bitten should call according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day