海角大神

A proposal to convert an off-limits island in Massachusetts to a timber rattlesnake conservation area has some residents worried, but state officials say the effort will not pose a danger to the snakes鈥� human neighbors.

The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife plan, endorsed by Gov. Charlie Baker (R),聽would convert the nearly 1,400-acre Mount Zion island in central Massachusetts鈥� Quabbin Reservoir into a rattlesnake colony.

Timber rattlesnakes are native to Massachusetts, but only 200 of the venomous creatures remain in the state, according to Tom French of the state Fish and Wildlife Service.

鈥淭hey are afraid that when we put the snakes there, they will spread,鈥� Dr. French told the Herald. 鈥淭hat just won鈥檛 happen. That鈥檚 just not how this is going to work.鈥�

鈥淲e want one place where the impact of people [is] not part of the equation,鈥� he told the Associated Press.

Although the species is listed as endangered in Massachusetts and much of the northeastern United States,聽people living near the Quabbin Reservoir waters are concerned that establishing a rattlesnake colony near their homes could lead to the animals鈥� spread. Mount Zion is connected to land via a thin road, plus timber rattlers can swim.

鈥淚t is inevitable that someone is going to get bit, and then they are going to close the watershed to the people,鈥� said Mike Krunklevich of Orange, Mass., during a public meeting, reported the Boston Herald. 鈥淭he priority here is exotic wildlife, and not the people聽鈥� and that鈥檚 a shame. I鈥檓 fed up with this.鈥�

鈥淭hey should just be leaving the Quabbin alone,鈥� added Bobby Curley of neighboring Athol, Mass. 鈥淭here is a lot of passion from people around here about the Quabbin, and now they are playing it like a biological playground.鈥�

French said that the timid snakes would not pose a threat to people in the area, adding that he had never heard of any rattlesnake bites during his 32-year tenure with the wildlife agency.

The project page on the MassWildlife website said that the snakes 鈥渨ould have little motivation to leave鈥� the large island, and that they probably could not find suitable habitat if they did stray.

In addition, all rattlesnakes on the island would be equipped with radio transmitters for the first 10 years of the project so they could be located in the event that they left Mount Zion.

Despite widespread reservations, some residents support the proposal as a means to help an embattled species survive.

鈥淭he snakes don鈥檛 bother me,鈥� said Duncan Burns of Gardner, Mass., who lives about 20 miles from the reservoir. 鈥淭here used to be snakes everywhere, but now there are only a few left. You can鈥檛 go on that 鈥╥sland anyway. If you go on there, you鈥檙e breaking the law.鈥�

The once-common snakes played a role in the Revolutionary War, when they appeared on the Gadsden Flag atop the motto 鈥淒on鈥檛 Tread On Me.鈥�

The next step in establishing the sanctuary will be an advisory committee meeting at the Quabbin visitor鈥檚 center on March 14.

This report contains material from the Associated Press.