Rattlesnake Removed From Church Playground: Manatee County Sheriff

DUETTE, FL — A diamondback rattlesnake was removed from a children’s playground at one of the churches off Lorraine Road Thursday, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Sgt. Rob Hendrickson, who removed the serpent, doesn’t recall its exact location, Randy Warren, public information officer for MCSO, told Patch.

“A lot of construction nearby likely pushed the snake out of the woods and in the playground area,” he said.

Hendrickson relocated the snake to the Duette Preserve. At 21,000 acres, it’s the largest preserve in Manatee County and contains the headwaters for Manatee River, according to the county website.

A wide variety of wildlife call the preserve home including species of special concern, such as the burrowing owl, snowy egret, white ibis, gopher tortoise, and at least three endangered or threatened species – the Florida scrub jay, the Florida panther, and the Eastern indigo snake.