Rescuing Indigenous Rattlesnakes at Roger Williams Park Zoo

The population of New England’s only native rattlesnake currently hovers around 200 in Massachusetts and for Lou Perrotti, director of conservation programs at Roger Williams Park Zoo, that’s unacceptable.

In an effort to preserve the population, the zoo is breeding timber rattlesnakes to augment current populations, but what has people worked up is a plan to establish a new population on an island in the Quabbin Reservoir. People aren’t allowed to set foot on the island which, in addition to the ample food sources and appropriate habitat, makes it a perfect place to release the snakes.

Most people don’t like snakes. That fear is built into our cultural DNA thanks to association with lies and evil that goes back thousands of years. Throw venomous fangs into the mix – the timber rattlesnake is also one of two native venomous snakes in the area – and it’s easy to understand why people don’t want them around. But what Lou, and conservationists in general, are trying to combat is cherry picking in our efforts to protect wildlife.

“We can’t selectively choose which species we want to conserve based on peoples’ hatred, fear or lack of education,” Lou explains.

As it stands now, the plan to place the snakes in the Quabbin is on hold. In the meantime, the rattlesnakes at Roger Williams Park Zoo are doing their part to keep their species alive. As for Lou, well, he’s a snake guy, and he’s proud of the work the zoo has done with what he calls non-charismatic species.

“We need all of these species. I don’t want to see any animals go extinct on my watch.”