Making Hiss-Tory Panel Oks Plan Adopting Rattlesnake As State Reptile

A proposal to make the Western rattlesnake Idaho’s state reptile crawled into the House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday.

Rep. Jeff Alltus, R-Hayden, stuck his tongue out at the idea. “I can’t support it. I have nothing against rattlesnakes … I’m just worried about the statement this sends out.”

The idea, proposed by fourth-graders from Summerwind Elementary school, eventually made its way to the full House.

Alltus said that he worried that the rattlesnake as a state reptile sends the message “stay away.” He said he would be much more comfortable with a lizard or turtle.

“I will not vote to make the rattlesnake the state reptile,” said Rep. Twila Hornbeck, R-Grangeville.

“If we vote for this as the state reptile we will be the laughingstock of the United States.”

Some 20 fourth-graders researched their idea and became convinced that of the 22 reptiles native to Idaho, the Western rattlesnake was the best reptile representative for the state.

“Without them,” said one student, “there would be rodents running all over the state. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

Students felt the snake deserved a chance to be a state symbol because it was a symbol of American pride during the Revolutionary War. It was featured on the banner flown by patriots with the motto, “Don’t tread on me.”

Most committee members liked the children’s idea and complimented them on their hard work.

“I think it’s a good bill and I’m going to vote for it,” said Rep. Jim Stoicheff, D-Sandpoint.

The last time this bill appeared in committee, Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden, argued that the issue would widen the gap between North and south Idaho because the Western rattlesnake never went north of the Salmon River.

James Munger, associate professor of Biology at BSU, said that statement was not true. In fact, the Western rattlesnake can be found as far north as I-90. Mark Gerber, of the Idaho Herpetological Society, speculated the the snake may still be found farther north.

The committee voted 16-4 to send the bill to the House for a vote.

, DataTimes