SNAKE UPDATE: “Please reassure your readers that the streets of
Emporium are not being overrun by rattlesnakes.”

So writes Phil Jones of Emporium. We admit, we’ve had a couple
columns in recent weeks ago rattlesnakes – some of which did turn
up in downtown Emporium.

But Phil continues, “I recently talked to a dietitian whose work
brought her to Emporium. When she mentioned to her co-workers that
she was headed to Emporium their panic-stricken voices told her she
better be careful, there’s rattlesnakes all over their town.”

“When you live in the center of the Pennsylvania wilds during a
warm and dry summer you’re bound to have run-ins with wildlife. As
you would with grizzlies and mountain lions in the west.

“Some counties have a high population of skunks. Does that mean
they are roaming the streets of their town? Of course not.

“We are all alive and well and don’t have to step over
rattlesnakes as we walk downtown.”

AND THESE: Mention of the rattlesnakes also brought these
comments:

Jamie Moran of Coudersport writes, “Pertaining to your articles
on rattlesnakes: Why there are so many of them in that one region
would also indicate a high rodent population since rattlesnakes
feed off from rats and other rodents alike.”

“Usually where there is a high rodent population, there would be
rattlesnakes and other animals that would be in abundance that feed
off from rodents.”

(Come to think of it, it does seem like there have been an
unusual number of rodents this year, too. Or are we imagining
things?)

Dick Bova of Port Allegany says, “My dad always claimed that
rattlers won’t live where there’s ash timber, which might account
for why we don’t have any in this area.”

(Dick is not the only person mentioned rattlers’ aversion to
ash, something that was new to us.)

Frank of Whitehouse, Ohio, writes, “Your story on rattlesnakes
was interesting. I lived in Bradford up until the summer of 1963,
and we used to catch rattlers for a man that lived on South Street
who gave us 50 cents each! He did let us taste them, just like
chicken!”

Finally for today we hear from Barney Snyder of Tucson, Ariz.:
“When we have a rattle in our yard here, we call the fire
department. They come and get it and drop it out in the
desert.”