In a secret effort to replenish diminishing timber rattlesnake populations, government officials have been stocking captive-bred specimens of the venomous reptiles at various locations within Texas’ National Forest land.
It is unclear as to which agency is responsible but according to these stories, some reports indicate it could be the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service while another rumor has it linked to a clandestine university project.
I say “story” but the truth is I have heard numerous tales of rattlesnake restoration efforts in the Pineywoods of East Texas. One gentleman even told me his uncle’s brother-in-law had some released next to his farm near Crockett. Hundreds of them.
Where did these stories originate?
Well, rattlesnakes have technically been “released” into certain areas in the Pineywoods. However, scientists did not breed them in captivity and they are not part of some secret restoration effort.
These “released” rattlesnakes are simply ones that were captured as part of a radio-telemetry study conducted by officials with the U.S. Forest Service. Timber rattlesnake were captured in the wild, fitted with radio transmitters and released back into the wild so researchers could track their movements.
*Check out photographic proof of cougars in East Texas here!
There never has been a timber rattlesnake stocking program in Texas or anywhere else for that matter.
Check out our video about a possible 11-foot rattlesnake here!
According to TPWD endangered species specialist, Ricky Maxey who I interviewed on this topic back in 2015, the rumors have been floating around since the 1990s.
“I used to work in the Big Thicket area out of Beaumont and we used to get questions about rattlesnake stockings frequently. And it seems the rumors are still pretty rampant,” Maxey said.
“Someone could have seen Forest Service officials capturing the snakes or releasing the ones fitted with transmitters and the rumor could have started there. Then again, it could be the case of a true story getting less and less truthful as it’s told,” he said.
Have you ever heard stories of secret rattlesnake stockings? Post about what you’ve heard in the comments below.
Chester Moore
Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms
To support the efforts of Higher Calling Wildlife® click here.
Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast on all major podcasting platforms.
Higher Calling Wildlife on Facebook
Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.
One thought on “The Truth About “Secret” Timber Rattlesnake Stockings In Texas”