Venomous Snake Found Under Car At Manchester Home (Video)

MANCHESTER, NJ — A timber rattlesnake that a Manchester woman saw in her driveway slithering under her car was found in Manchester last week.

Officials at Popcorn Park Animal Refuge in Lacey posted video of the capture of the snake (see video below), prompting reminders from authorities to exercise caution as the venomous snakes are out and about this time of year.

The woman called the state Department of Environmental Protection, which then called Popcorn Park because the facility has staff who volunteer for the DEP’s Venomous Snake Response Team.

"She kept an eye on it from a safe distance and called the DEP," officials said on Facebook, and monitored its movements until the snake team arrived. "We arrived just in time. After following him around her yard for a bit, he was about a foot away from going under her shed when we pulled into her driveway."

Officials said they distracted the snake to keep it from going under the shed and caught it, then relocatd the snake to "a safe area not far from the capture but away from homes."

Timber rattlesnakes are present throughout the state and in the Pine Barrens; a spate of sightings in Manchester in 2016 prompted a warning from police to stay away from them and call the DEP if you see one, as this woman did.

In 2015, a man camping in the neighboring state of Pennsylvania was killed after being bitten by a Timber rattlesnake.

The DEP advises the following:

• Do NOT approach a rattlesnake! The timber rattlesnake is basically a passive animal but can become defensive when threatened. Because rattlesnakes view humans as predators, your prolonged presence could encourage a defensive strike.
• NEVER attempt to handle a rattlesnake. This is extremely threatening to the rattlesnake and encourages defensive strikes. In addition, the timber rattlesnake is protected under the NJ Endangered Species Act. Therefore, it is illegal to kill, handle or harass a timber rattlesnake in New Jersey.
• Move a safe distance away from the snake. Rattlesnakes can strike at a distance of up to half their body length.

Call the DEP at the following numbers:

Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.,m.-4:30 p.m.: 908-638-4381

After hours, weekends, holidays and when you cannot reach the biologist at the previous number: 1-877 WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337).

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Photo via Manchester Township Police