All snakes are good snakes. They play a vital in the ecosystem, both as predator and as prey. Many snakes feed on rodents, insects, and spiders thus keeping the populations of these pests under control. Snake venom is medicinally useful in synthesizing various drugs. I didn;t know what that meant so I looked it up. It means to help combine various ingredients together into a coherent whole. Who knew snake venom could do THAT! Snakes are an "indicator species," the same as we frogs. That means snakes (and frogs) can help researches get a better understanding of productivity and atability of an ecosystem. If the snakes are doing well, then so is their envireonment...and that's good for everyone.
Snakes pose no harm to humans in they are left un-harrassed. Even deadly snakes will try to avoid humans at all cost. Snakes are misunderstood, feared, and often misidentified. Non-venomous snakes often meet an unfortunate end at the hands of humans because so many snakes are misidentified.
And we need to watch out for our snake friends. Like frogs, they need protection from things like habitat destruction, road mortality, invasive species, illegal wild harvesting, and intentional human-inflicted mortality. Lots of critter have these same problems these days!
Snakes have gotten a pretty bad rap over the last few thousand years. World Snake Day was created to raise awareness about snakes. There are 3,458 species of snakes, ranging in habitat from the semi-frozen tundra of nothern Canada, to the steamy jungles of the Equator, and most of the world's oceans. And snakes have a pretty-awesom pre-historic lineage, too; meaning they can provide humans with a glimpse into prehistoric times. And did you know that reptiles are a living, breathing cousin to the dinosaur? They are!
There's a lot to love about snakes and, really, nothing to fear or dislike. Tomorrow, on World Snake Day may I suggest you spend some time learning to love snakes...even if it's just a little. Learn more about snakes from books and reputable online websites. Visit snakes in a zoo or other protected place. And if you already LOVE snakes, you might think about "adopting" one as the family pet. But PLEASE, for your sake as well as the snake's, be sure to get the right snake for you. There are a lot of really great snake choices when it comes to pets, so just be certain you know all the facts before making your selection. There are experts out there who can help you determine which snake will be your perfect pet.
I hope that my blog today has opened your eyes a little to the wonders and beauty of these amazing repiles. And know that it's OK to admit to loving snakes. After all, some of my best friends are snakes and I'm a frog!
HAPPY WORLD SNAKE DAY everyone.