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Melissa
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Venomous Snake RelocatorsCompiled by Melissa Kaplan
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One of the things I have always sought to do in my public education efforts is to get people who heretofore have had no appreciation for snakes and their role in their ecosystem to come to some sort of appreciation of them. I try to get that appreciation to extend not taking a shovel to every snake they see in their yard. Be that as it may, some people just don't want snakes under their porches or under-house crawl spaces (go figure!). Others are understanding about innocuous species sharing their immediate environs, but draw the line at venomous snakes living in such close proximity. Thus, the next line of education is to get these folks to call in people who are experienced in the live capture and safe relocation of these animals. The following list is composed of people I have heard of or been in contact with who are experienced in safely capturing and transporting snakes, including venomous snakes, and releasing them in appropriate unpopulated areas. If you are going to call any of these folks, please understand that most of these people have real jobs - "real" in the sense that reptile relocation is generally something they do in their free time as service to both the reptile and to the community (though it is heavily weighted towards the former!). So, if they aren't there to answer your call, and don't call you back while the snake is still sunning itself on your porch step, don't get angry or frustrated - they are either at work or commuting home or doing what you do when you aren't out finding snakes you don't want in your yard!. You can be helpful in watching to see where that snake goes and in giving a dispassionate (meaning: accurate!) description of the color, markings and length (most "huge venomous snake" calls that come in are actually harmless snakes such as a two year old gopher snake).
Some of these folks charge for their services - and why shouldn't they? No matter how skilled and experienced someone is in handling venomous snakes, there is always the risk that they will be bitten. On top of some pretty expensive hospitalization and antivenin bills, they are also quite likely to drive some distance away from human habitation to release the snakes they removed from urban yards and parks. Ask if there is a fee; if there isn't, consider giving them something anyway for coming out and taking care of matters for you...any way you look at it, it is still going to be cheaper than you ending up in the hospital from a bite, or chopping your own foot with that shovel, or moving to someplace that doesn't have rattlers! Needless to say, I need input to make this list grow to encompass all states/provinces where venomous snakes are to be found. So, if you do venomous relocation or know of people who do, please email me the state, county(ies) you service, relocator name, address, phone number, and any other relevant contact information. Email reminder: When emailing any of these individuals, remember to remove the exclamation point and space after the @ symbol that has been added to their email address.
U.S.A. ALABAMACalhoun County Neal
Pettus Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Houston Charles
Ray ARIZONAMaricopa County
Pima County "Payne"less
Rattlesnake Removal Service Pinal County
Yavapai County All
Animals Rescue and Transportation CALIFORNIAAlameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and Solano Counties David
Allen
Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake, Mariposa, Nevada, Sacramento, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Placer, and Yolo Counties Ramirez
Rattlesnake Removal El Dorado County L.B.'s
Rattlesnake Removal Kern County H.F.(Buz)
Lunsford
Brad Alexander
Doug Lemmons
Del Alspaw Lake County Greg
Frost Los Angeles County Pasadena
Humane Society (city of Pasadena only) Jason
C. McElroy Orange County Jason
Magee Sacramento County Tom
Weist San Diego Lehmans
Rattlesnake Removal Sonoma County
Douglas and Jefferson counties Tim
Warfel
DELAWAREFLORIDACentral Florida Snake
Getters Alachua and Marion Counties Bill
and Lesley Cope Bay Jason
H Troxell Escambia Jason
Gallagher Gulf Jason
H Troxell Hernando, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Polk Counties
Manatee and Sarasota Counties
Marin County Shawn
Boorman Miami-Dade Miami-Dade
Fire Rescue Orange David
Seerveld Pasco
Palm Beach Greg
Longhurst Pinellas Angelic
Animals Enterprises, Inc. Washington Jason
H Troxell GEORGIABurke County Clarence
Belger Camden County Karl
H. Betz Chatham County Andrew
Jackson Cobb, Fulton, Douglas, Dekalb, Paulding Joel
La Rocque
INDIANA Jim
Paredes MARYLAND George
Heath William
Taylor MICHIGAN / OHIO Adjacent Jim
& Sheila Hoag NEW MEXICOBernalillo County Alan
Petmecky Jason
A. Rose Cibola County Alan
Petmecky Colfax County J.C.
Haynes McKinley County Alan
Petmecky Sandoval County Alan
Petmecky Santa Fe County Alan
Petmecky Torrance County Alan
Petmecky Valencia County Alan
Petmecky NEVADA John
Potash Tom
Weist NORTH CAROLINAChatham County Melissa
Lowell Johnson County Adam
Perry Orange County Melissa
Lowell Pitt County Adam
Perry Wake County Melissa
Lowell Clayton
Metcalfe Adam
Perry
OKLAHOMAAlfalfaTandy
Keenan Creek, Tulsa Counties Barry
and Dana Thomas Major Tandy
Keenan Woods Tandy
Keenan
Woodward Tandy
Keenan OREGON Richard
Ritchey Deschutes County Joe
Franke Adams Will
Weyant Allegheny County Mike
Granovitz Bedford Brian
Nelson Cambria Brian
Nelson Clarion McCool's
Wildlife Removal Crawford McCool's
Wildlife Removal Dauphin Will
Weyant Cumberland Will
Weyant Harrisburg Vicinity Will
Weyant Mercer McCool's
Wildlife Removal Perry Will
Weyant Somerset Brian
Nelson Venago McCool's
Wildlife Removal York Will
Weyant SOUTH CAROLINAAbbeville, Edgefile, Greenwood, & McCormick Counties Michael
E. Runyan Greenville, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Anderson (partial) Todd
Poole Lexington and Richland Counties Matt
Elness & Ashley Hiott Dekalb, Jackson, Rutherford, Smith, Wilson Michael
Jones TEXASBexar County South
Texas Herpetology Association Bosque Todd
Becker Dallas County Snake
Encounters Fort Bend Clint
Pustejovsky Harris County
Houston County Matt
Howlett McClennan Todd
Becker Montgomery Clint
Pustejovsky Northeast Tarrant County Gene
F. Giggleman, DVM South Tarrant County Eric
Talley Waller Clint
Pustejovsky Wichita Wichita
Falls Reptile Rescue Other The
Critter Relocator Tim
Cole VIRGINIA Caroline
Seitz George
Heath Michael
R. Banez Virginia
Reptile Removal Servjce William
Taylor
WYOMING Gaylon
LeCoy Holmes
CANADA Tyler
Enfield Rattlesnake Articles Rattlesnake Roundup and Related Information Snake Removal and Consultation Services
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www.anapsid.org/societies/venomousrelocators.html