Johnstown residents are facing a new challenge this summer: finding rattlesnakes in their yards.
The Johnstown Police Department received a call Wednesday about a three foot yellow rattlesnake sunning itself in a yard on the 300 block of Glenn Street.
Luckily, Johnstown Police Chief Rich Prichard, is no stranger to snake handling and was able to bag it in time to hand over to a Fish and Boat Waterways Conservation officer to be then safely transported and relocated.
"Rattlesnakes won’t hurt you if you don’t step on them or mess with them," said Prichard. "They’re docile animals. If you have one in your yard, call us and we’ll send somebody out there. We’ll either come and catch it or we’ll call the Fish and Boat Commission. They had about a 20 minute response time for this incident, so best is to call 911."
Officials stated that this year rattlesnakes are more prevalent in urban areas due to drought and the best thing to do is to just leave them alone.
If you do get bit by a rattlesnake seek immediate medical attention.
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