Two Commerce City police officers spent part of their Tuesday on a very Colorado kind of call, wrangling a rattlesnake after a passerby spotted it near Adams City High School. The officers eased the snake into control with a pole, settled it in the back of a patrol car, and drove it a short distance to a nearby field before letting it slither off. A short video of the encounter shows the officers working carefully and calmly to keep both bystanders and the animal safe.
As reported by CBS Colorado, officers Sutherland and Majka used a pole to secure the rattlesnake, loaded it into the rear of their patrol cruiser, and released it in a field close by. The station credits the Commerce City Police Department for photos and video, which show the snake coiled in the grass while the officers maintain a cautious distance.
Why rattlesnakes show up now
Prairie rattlesnakes are widespread across Colorado and tend to make more appearances as temperatures rise. "Rattlesnakes are usually very forgiving; they give us every opportunity to stay away before they resort to a venomous bite in self-defense," Colorado Parks and Wildlife notes. According to the agency, relocation is allowed only to unconfined nearby locations, and the animal should generally be released no more than two miles from the capture site unless officials give specific authorization.
Where it happened
The encounter unfolded near the campus of Adams City High School, which lists its address as 7200 Quebec Parkway in Commerce City, according to Adams City High School. A passerby first discovered the snake, and officers then moved it off school grounds to a nearby field, as described by CBS Colorado.
Safety tips for neighbors
Neighbors are urged to give snakes plenty of space, watch from a safe distance, and keep pets leashed so curious noses do not get too close. Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises against handling snakes and says that anyone who is bitten should call 911 immediately; the agency also outlines limits on when and how rattlesnakes can be legally relocated.
The Commerce City Police Department contact page lists its Civic Center address and phone number for non-emergency questions. The brief footage from this call serves as a timely reminder that rattlesnake season is in full swing along the Front Range.
