Two snakes added to protection list

The state Natural Resources Commission added timber rattlesnakes and garter snakes to its list of protected species last week. Richard Bishop, the Chief of the Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Natural Resources, says these were the only snakes not protected by the state.He says garter snakes are in better shape number wise than the timber rattlesnake.Bishop says adding protections for the garter snake will hopefully increase awareness of the animal.Bishop says the new protected status won’t lead to lots of snake abuse fines.Bishop says the timber rattlesnake population is declining nationwide and that snake could eventually end up on the national protection list.