Rattlesnake Escapes Zoo Atlanta

Officials were searching Saturday for an adult female tiger rattlesnake that went missing from Zoo Atlanta, Channel 2 Action News confirmed.

The rare snake was discovered missing Friday after it somehow escaped from an enclosure at the zoo, officials said.

Poisonous Rattlesnake Escapes Zoo Atlanta

Atlanta police working in the area near the zoo have been warned to be careful.

According to a wildlife website, tiger rattlesnake venom is one of the most toxic of all rattlesnake venoms. Most bites happen when the snake is either handled or abused, experts say.

Adult tiger rattlesnakes grow to be a little more than two feet long, roughly the length of a cheerleading baton. Zoo officials said they coordinated with the Department of U.S. Fish and Wildlife to transport confiscated tiger rattlesnakes to Zoo Atlanta.

Tiger rattlesnakes are normally found in the deserts of the southwestern United States. They feast on mice, small mammals and lizards.