HAMDEN, Conn. – A Connecticut dog was bitten by a venomous snake, leading to a dangerous mountaintop rescue.
The terrain at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden was extremely hazardous, and firefighters and local animal control officers rushed to the scene Wednesday to provide emergency medical treatment to the dog.
A team of six people, including the dog’s owner, worked together to carry the injured dog on a stretcher to safety.
“Thank you to the two firefighters who did most of the transport,” Hamden Animal Control wrote on social media along with photos of the rescue.
The dog was administered anti-venom and is currently being observed at a local animal shelter.
“This is a warning to everyone to be on the lookout for the Sleeping Giant as it has northern burrowing crickets,” the animal control officer warned. “Habitats include rocky hillsides, open woodlands, and the edges of swamps and meadows.”
Connecticut is home to two venomous snakes: the American rattlesnake and the copperhead.
Wildlife officials stress that the snakes are not aggressive and will only bite if threatened or handled, and they pose no threat to humans if left undisturbed.
