BY SHENIA ROBERTS
Journal Staff Writer

Residents of Harbour Island are in a frenzy after a video of what locals believed to be a rattle
snake roaming residents’ yards was circulated on social media. The video shows what appears to
be a multi coloured snake resembling a Western Diamondback Rattle Snake, scurrying through
bushes as the onlooker records from a short distance behind.
The Western Diamondback much like its close cousin the Eastern Diamondback are among the
largest species of rattle snake growing up to 7 feet long. They are extremely venomous causing
general effects including pain, heavy internal bleeding, severe swelling, severe muscle damage,
bruising, blistering, and necrosis, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dizziness,
convulsions and in some cases death if left untreated
According to the audio file that accompanied the video the snake was found in area between two
residences where a boat had just recently been removed. JCN news spoke with a resident of
Harbor Island, the neighbour of the person who allegedly witnessed and videoed the snake
Micheal Higgs who confirmed that the siting was in fact real.
Higgs said “we are very concerned on the island, no one wants to be bitten by the snake” as he
explained that authorities were notified of the threat.
He also shared that the area where the alleged snake was captured is one frequently visited by his
neighbour as he keeps his boat there.
In effort to confirm or deny these claims JCN reached out to officials at the Harbour Island and
Governors Harbour Police Station who refused to give any information on whether they had
knowledge of the alleged sighting despite claims that officials were notified. Our team also
reached out to healthcare officials locally to confirm whether or not the incident was reported
and were told that that the clinic had received no such notification. However, officials at the
harbour island clinic emphasized that if in fact the threat is real, they will take the necessary
precautions to receive emergency supplies from new providence.
Despite having no clarity on the matter Mr. Higgs says residents are taking precautions around
their yards and spreading the word to make others aware of the potential threat. He emphasized
that he hopes officials are investigating the matter as it can pose a serious health and safety threat
to the community of Harbour Island.