By Michael Gaige and Saratoga PLAN
With the 2023 acquisition of Snake Hill, Saratoga PLAN is working through plans for a reintroduction of timber rattlesnakes to the site after 165 years absence. Preliminary plans call for the release of 50 snakes to the site a year from now and an additional 50 snakes a year later. Rattlesnakes will be sourced by PLAN volunteers from various areas in New York and western New England.
Snake Hill, so named for the only rattlesnake den in Saratoga County, was home to timber rattlesnakes until around 1870 when local farmers exterminated them. The site is described on the Kayadeross Patent in 1771 as “Snake Point” and was later home to “Snake Hill Farm” of the Hart family, in the 1800s.
Saratoga PLAN’s effort will include the initial release of 50 rattlesnakes and will recruit the help of local school kids. Rob Davies, Executive Director of Saratoga PLAN, feels confident on the scheme: “We’ll have 50 elementary kids from local schools join us to disperse the snakes. Because of the distance from the parking lot to the top of Snake Hill we need to transport the snakes about 100 yards. Each child will carry a snake—which they can name—from the cages to the summit. We’ll remind students not to run with the snakes because jostling the reptiles could cause them to bite. But with an early April release date next year we’re confident the cool weather will keep the snakes somewhat lethargic.”
After the release, students will then breed and raise mice in their classrooms to feed the rattlesnakes. “We don’t want to the snakes impacting the small mammal population of Snake Hill. So, the school kids will return monthly with 100 mice to feed the snakes. We hope students will be able to find their snake, but rattlesnakes can be similar looking,” Davies said.
Local residents along the east shore of Saratoga Lake will be asked to remove any mouse traps and to cordon off areas of their warm driveways, walkways, and decks to allow the snakes to bask. “This is going to be a real community effort—bringing back the snakes—just like it was a successful community effort to protect Snake Hill forever,” Davies said. “We’re very excited about the potential to make Snake Hill rattle again!”
The public is asked to support PLAN’s Snake Hill “Little Rattlers for Big Kids” fund with donations to purchase starter mice and snake antivenom kits. Teachers can request involvement of their classrooms through a competitive application. The deadline for submissions is end of today, April 1st, 2026.