Rattlesnakes like new north Austin state office buildings

AUSTIN, Texas -- Frequent sightings of rattlesnakes outside a couple of north Austin state office buildings have people who work in them rattled.

Jessica Marsh, the general counsel for the Texas Civil Commitment Office, tells the Houston Chronicle (http://bit.ly/2gdg3Ia ) she was coming out the front door recently, looked down and "there it was."

State agencies in the buildings have sent memos to employees warning about the venomous reptiles.

An Austin herpetologist, James Tripp, says the snakes likely are living in landscaping rocks, shrubs or other areas around the buildings that border open fields. He says the activity is typical of developing areas where wildlife has been displaced. The Austin area also has seen more rain this year, leading to more reports of snakes.

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/rattlesnakes-like-new-north-austin-state-office-buildings/XoIJ8MtbY3aaBig0o670ZJ/

[font color=330099]This counters common knowledge that the snakes are congregated at the Governor's Mansion and the Capitol.[/font]