![Exchange Snake Handler Exchange Snake Handler](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ap_925086378056.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
Wildlife authorities in Massachusetts are establishing a colony of venomous rattlesnakes on an uninhabited island in the state to prevent the species’ extinction.
Once prolific in New England, timber rattlesnakes are now endangered after years of mass deforestation and persecution of the species, reports the Guardian. Officials estimate that only 200 snakes still exist in the state.
The colony scheme, spearheaded by Massachusetts’ division of fisheries and wildlife, will place eight of the snakes on Mount Zion, an island that sits in a central Massachusetts reservoir. Though the island is deserted, nearby residents are concerned that the snakes — which can swim — will make their way to the mainland, where they could pose a threat to people and pets.
Officials note that a lethal bite from a timber rattlesnake hasn’t been documented in Massachusetts in centuries.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Why Biden Dropped Out
- Ukraine’s Plan to Survive Trump
- The Rise of a New Kind of Parenting Guru
- The Chaos and Commotion of the RNC in Photos
- Why We All Have a Stake in Twisters’ Success
- 8 Eating Habits That Actually Improve Your Sleep
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox
Contact us at letters@time.com