CLARKSTOWN, N.Y. — A big snake has been noticed in a Rockland County lake and it’s getting plenty of consideration from residents.
The snake was seen in Congers Lake in Clarkstown.
Donato Parisi, a groundskeeper on the lake, mentioned the not too long ago found snake is probably the most well-known — or notorious — resident there.
“Everybody was a bit involved as a result of snakes scare folks,” Parisi mentioned.
Park goers noticed the big, black snake this week and it received lots of consideration on social media.
“Quite a lot of concern, so we instantly despatched the police out,” Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann mentioned.
Hoehmann mentioned officers truly noticed a number of snakes, together with the large one which was estimated to be round 5 toes lengthy.
Pictures have been despatched to state Department of Environmental Conservation.
“They instructed us that it was a particularly well-fed rat snake that seemingly simply got here out of hibernation,” Hoehmann mentioned.
Officials say rat snakes aren’t dangerous to folks. They can develop as much as 8 toes lengthy. They eat something from small birds to frogs and, sure, rats.
“We have been teasing, like we’ll mortgage him to Mayor Adams for the rats down within the metropolis. They maintain the rodent inhabitants down,” Hoehmann mentioned.
Some 600,000 folks go to Congers Lake yearly, partly for the wildlife.
“We’re pushing everyone out of all of the totally different habitats. So it is good to see some animals coming again,” Clarkstown resident Mitch Bittman mentioned.
Still, park goers are retaining a detailed eye on the water.
“We’ve been watching all the best way round walking,” resident Sherri Roth mentioned.
Officials say folks ought to take pleasure in all wildlife, however from a distance.
For your sake and theirs.