Venomous Snake Sighting In Alexandria Leads To Capture

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Finding a snake around your property may be an unwelcome sight, but the most common snakes in our area tend to be non-venomous types that benefit the ecosystem. When the snake you come across is venomous, that's a whole different situation.

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria's Animal Services responded to a timber rattlesnake sighting Sunday in the 400 block of Gibbon Street in Old Town. This type of snake is venomous, endangered and rarely found in the region. It is illegal to own any rattlesnake in Alexandria without a special license.

Upon receiving the call, Animal Services officers responded and captured the timber rattlesnake. While Virginia law typically prevents animal service officers from interfering with wildlife that isn't ill, injured, or a threat to the community, Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources allowed officers to capture the snake because it was venomous. Officers transported the snake to a wildlife facility.

According to the Department of Wildlife Resources, there are three kinds of venomous snakes in Virginia. The timber rattlesnake is usually only common in the mountainous western Virginia and a small area of southeastern Virginia. The copperhead can be found statewide and is the most common, typically in gardens and woodlots. Water moccasins, also known as cottonmouths, are usually only in wet areas and are found south and east of Petersburg.

Residents are not encouraged to try to move a wild animal without help. Anyone with wildlife concerns or questions in the City of Alexandria should call the police non-emergency number at 703-746-4444.