LENEXA, Kan. (AP) _ Five timber rattlesnakes whose Johnson County dens were slated to be blacktopped are part of a new snake relocation program that appears to be working.

In February, Lenexa animal control supervisor Jennifer Dorr learned that a large den of snakes had been found in an area that was going to be developed in the spring. She and others put together a plan to relocate as many of the snakes as possible.

They found land and a landowner willing to allow the snakes. They will not say where the land is. But they set about catching 29 rattlers and moved them all to the same general area, because snakes are social creatures. Seven were fitted with radio transmitters.

One of the snakes has even had babies, which experts say is a good sign since snakes won't procreate if they're stressed.