Missoula is home to Rattlesnake Creek, and now more people are becoming aware that it's also home to a few rattlesnakes.

The Missoula office of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has recently received several calls about rattlesnakes around Missoula.

Some of the callers were obviously concerned, and some have expressed surprise to find rattlesnakes in the area. But southwestern Montana - particularly in the Clark Fork, Bitterroot and lower Flathead river valleys - and the area east of the Continental Divide have always been home to prairie rattlesnakes.