Authorities Hunt for Potentially Deadly Snake on the Loose in Suburban Geneva

Cottonmouths are not found in this part of the state, wildlife experts say, but now it has been spotted twice in the past two days

Authorities are on the hunt for a potentially deadly venomous snake on the loose in west suburban Geneva.

The reptile was first spotted by a roofer who was working on a neighborhood home. The man gave wildlife experts a photo of a snake resembling the one he saw and Glen Ellyn’s Willowbrook Wildlife Center identified it as a highly venomous cottonmouth water moccasin.

Experts had earlier said a photo they received was of the snake in Geneva, but a representative for the construction company the roofer worked for said the image was not taken by the worker and was given as an example of the snake he saw. 

Cottonmouths are not typically found in this part of the state, wildlife experts say.

The reptile has been spotted twice in the past two days. First in the shrubs outside of a home and then in the grass on the move.

Brad and Katy Lundsteen of Suburban Wildlife Control estimate the snake could be about as thick as a soda can and hovering around 6 feet long. The two spent the majority of Tuesday evening trying to track the massive reptile.

The biggest concern for many is what will happen if a resident suffers a snake bite.

“The bite actually keeps blood from coagulating,” Katy Lundsteen said. “[Causing a] breakdown of muscle tissue, lose limbs. It will kill you if you don't get the antivenom.”

Because the wild breed is not typically found in the area, hospitals are not adequately prepared with the proper venom treatment.

One Geneva resident spent several hours calling hospitals across the state to track down the proper antivenom to be flown in if needed.

Katie Marr says it's not uncommon to see a small snake near the pond behind her family home, but she's never seen anything like this one.

“I’m very concerned, I hope they catch it,” Marr said, adding that she is keeping her children off the lawn until then. “It's scary when you have three kids under 4 and they could reach for it at any time.”

If the reptile is a cottonmouth, it's not clear how the snake found its way to Geneva.

“My theory is somebody went on a trip and it crawled in the hood of their car,” Brad Lundsteen said. “It was cold and crawled into a warm engine, that's what I would probably guess.”

For now, residents are just anxious to see the snake leave.

Contact Us