Exciting moments outside of a Macon fast food restaurant as local animal enforcement officers removed a venomous rattlesnake from a children's play area at the business. (photo credit- Bibb County Sheriff's Office)
MACON, GA- Emergency dispatchers are no strangers to odd and unusual calls, but a call for service in central Georgia recently got a local animal control officer into a slithery situation. A Bibb County Animal Control Officer was recently called to a local Burger King restaurant to remove a venomous snake from a kids play area at the business.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office recently released photos of Bibb County Animal Control Officer Rebecca Galeazzo and AEO Leann Strickland removing a venomous Timber Rattlesnake from the area where children normally play in the central Georgia city.
Staff and guests at the fast food restaurant originally noticed the slithery patron moving across the parking lot of the business before it made its way to the play area. The area was secured by staff of the business until the animal control officers arrived to remove the animal. The officers were able to locate the snake hiding under the play equipment.
The duo of animal control officers were able to safely remove the snake and move it to a more appropriate habitat without incident. No one was injured during the removal of the reptile from the business.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Timber Rattlesnakes are common and found throughout all of the state of Georgia. Despite being venomous they often are shy and try to remain still to avoid being detected by people. Typically these snake prefer to be found in undisturbed wooded areas mainly pine-hardwooded forests. In urban settings they can some times be found in old abandoned homesites and barns as these provide cover for them to strike prey.
Georgia is home to six species of venomous snakes. Those include; Copperhead, Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin), Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Pigmy Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake, and Eastern Coral Snake. Statewide there are more than 40 species of non-venomous snakes found across the Peach State.
If you encounter a snake experts always encourage you to give it space and an escape route. Snakes do not want to interact with people and are just looking for a way to get away. Experts also advise that you should never pick up a wild snake. Last month a hiker died in neighboring Tennessee after attempting to pickup a wild rattlesnake and was bitten.
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