Venomous snakes are set to start a rare, biannual migration across southern Illinois.
Authorities are preparing to close roads in preparation for the phenomenon, such as the stretch of the Great River Road that leads through the Shawnee National Forest, which is home to over 20 species of snakes.
The reptiles live between the forest's limestone cliffs and the LaRue Swamp. In the spring and fall, they move from one place to the other.
Unlike larger animals, snakes do not migrate hundreds of miles, but they are known to travel, depending on the time of year. The migration in Illinois, however, is unlike anything seen in North America. The most common snake observed during the event is the cottonmouth—a highly venomous semi-aquatic snake. There are also copperheads, a venomous pit viper and the Timber rattlesnake, but not all of the migrating snakes are venomous.
During the spring and fall migrations, the U.S. Forest Service shuts the 2.7-mile-long stretch of road in Shawnee to let the snakes migrate and ensure their safety, TV station WTHR reported.
U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist Mark Vukovich told the station that it is wise for visitors to stick to the road while the migration is happening.
"It's a great way to get people over that feeling that snakes are bad and they're nasty creatures. They're not. They're not at all," he said.
During the migration periods, Vukovich said, many out-of-towners come to visit. "You'll see a surprising number of out-of-state license plates," he said. "Everybody knows it as Snake Road. It's just a great place to come watch snakes."
During the peak times of the year, it is not uncommon for the area to be flocked with people taking pictures of the migration.
Steve Widowski, who used to be a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Forest Service, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that years ago the roads used to look like a "heaving mass of spaghetti."
This does not tend to be the case anymore, as many people steal the snakes from the area for personal collections. Also, cars kill many of the snakes.
Rules are now in place to protect the serpents. It is strictly prohibited to handle the snakes in any way, the Post-Dispatch reported.
Vukovich told WTHR that the best time for people to see the snakes is in October, when the fall migration is in full swing.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Forest Service for further comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Robyn White is a Newsweek Nature Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on wildlife, science and the ... Read more
