First day on the job was interesting for Winneshiek County's newest deputy

As we told you earlier (http://www.decorahnews.com/news-stories/2015/05/10813.html) Lance Peters has started working as the newest Winneshiek County Sheriff's Deputy.

Now we can tell you that his first day on the job was rather exciting.

Peters was dispatched to a home east of Decorah on Monday.  The property owner wanted some help in removing an intruder from his porch--a very large snake.

The called described the snake as a rattlesnake, but fortunately it was not.  Peters call the Iowa DNR and they removed the snake, identifying it as a "Western Fox Snake."  These snakes are harmless.  Sometimes, however, they mimic rattlesnakes by vibrating their tails.  This defensive strategy backfired because humans then began killing them.

The snake east of Decorah was safely relocated by Iowa DNR staffers to the Yellow River Forest in Allamakee County.