ORANGE, Mass. — There's a plan in place that would create a "snake island" in Massachusetts and as you can imagine, some people are quite concerned about the idea.
People who live nearby told FOX25’s Crystal Haynes they are concerned rattle snakes could make it off the island and into their neighborhoods.
The concerns also extend to people who regularly enjoy the scenic area that Quabbin Reservoir has to offer.
“They've been here for almost 400 years since the pilgrims and before, but now on our watch they're starting to be wiped out,” Assistant Director of Mass. Fish and Wildlife Tom French said.
So the fish and wildlife has begun a project to take newborn timber rattlesnakes, mature them, and transplant them to Mount Zion Island.
The hope is to have 25-75 on the island within 10 years.
"We need a place where we can protect the snakes from the people and not the other way around,” French said.
But convincing the public of that has been a challenge.
FOX25 was at an informational meeting Tuesday in orange with fish and wildlife officials.
"I fish almost every day at the Quabbin and I don't think it's a good idea," Clayton Sydla from Ware said.
Sylda says having snakes on the island would put the public in danger. It's less than a mile from shore.
Sandy Eckland from Orange feels the same.
“Snakes don't stay put. They move. They slither places and these can swim. So I think there is a danger to humans as well as other protected animals,” she said.
French says timber rattlesnakes never go far from their hibernation areas, even though they have the ability to swim for miles.
They could. But they won't because there's every motivation not to. If they did, it still wouldn't matter because we’ve got a radio transmitter on them. We'll go get them and bring them back,” he said.
French also says Mount Zion Island was chosen for good reason.
"This is a place that's already off limits to the public cause of drinking water safety issues. So that's why we chose it. People can't go there,” he said.
Still, residents aren’t convinced.
"Although people are not permitted to be there, you know very well people will go there. Especially if something new and different like this happens there,” Eckland said.
Fish and wildlife officials said the project will cost nothing for the tax payer, but residents say that's still not enough of a reason to support this project