Snake that bit man's shoe not rattler

BRASHER FALLS — Claims that a resident was bitten by a rattlesnake have turned out to be false. Thomas J. Gurrola was instead bitten a few weeks ago by a nonvenomous milk snake, according to Glenn Johnson, chairman of the biology department at SUNY Potsdam.

The species was determined after Mr. Johnson saw pictures Mr. Gurrola took of the snake on his cell phone.

The two species "are quite different, if you're attuned to snakes," Mr. Johnson said. To those who do not study snakes, the differences are more difficult to spot, he said. Both rattle their tails and are boldly patterned.

Milk snakes — which are common in this area — do not have rattlers on their tails and are more slender than rattlesnakes, which do not inhabit the north country.

According to Mr. Gurrola, the milk snake came out of a garden hose when he was moving it to mow the lawn. It tried to bite him, but got his shoe instead. He hit it with a shovel and put it in a bucket until it could be picked up later that day.

The snake was removed from their property, but did not go to the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park, Watertown, as previously reported, according to Susan M. Sabik, the zoo's general curator.