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State officials propose to use a restricted island in Massachusetts as a rattlesnake conservation area. However, this proposal left the residents worried even though the officials say that the snakes will not be of any risk to the human neighbors.

The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Plan, supported by Governor Charlie Baker (R), recommends to convert a 1,400-acre Mount Zion island in Quabbin Reservoir, Massachusetts, as a rattlesnake colony. Tom Fisher of the department says that timber rattlesnakes are a native to Massachusetts but now only 200 of them remain, reports The Daily Beast

"They are afraid that when we put the snakes there, they will spread," Dr. French told the Herald. "That just won't happen. That's just not how this is going to work."

"We want one place where the impact of people [is] not part of the equation," he told the Associated Press.

Despite listing the species as endangered, the residents of Massachusetts worry that establishing a colony right next to where they live with expose them to the threat of a venomous snake and not to mention the colony will also increase their population. Mount Zion is connected by road to the living areas, plus timber rattlesnakes can also swim, WBUR.org reports

"It is inevitable that someone is going to get bit, and then they are going to close the watershed to the people," said Mike Krunklevich of Orange, Mass., during a public meeting, reported the Boston Herald. "The priority here is exotic wildlife, and not the people - and that's a shame. I'm fed up with this."

"They should just be leaving the Quabbin alone," added Bobby Curley of neighboring Athol, Mass. "There is a lot of passion from people around here about the Quabbin, and now they are playing it like a biological playground" as reported by The Christian Monitor