WCSH (Portland, Maine) 08 December 06 Snake Migration A Popular Attraction (Matt Bush)
At Larue Pine Hills Research Natural area in southern Illinois, rangers block traffic twice a year so snakes can slither across the road.
"It used to be commonplace for people to come and see how many snakes they could kill. So the forest service took a stand to do the right thing to close this and protect the reptiles that exist here," said Scott Ballard of the Illinois department of natural resources.
Snakes crawl out of the swamp in the fall to find a den, to hibernate for the winter.
Rocky bluffs make ideal snake dens and in some places just 50 yards away from the swamp, but they have to cross snake road to get there.
"It really makes a big difference. We have been able to maintain the diversity and abundance of reptiles and amphibians here as a result of that closure," said Steve Widowski of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
No cars, no snake hooks, and no collecting are allowed, but you can walk snake road and people come from surrounding sites to see them.
33 kinds of snakes are found here, including the venomous cottonmouth, copperhead, and timber rattlesnake.
"It really is fun to look for them and see them in the wild because you really don't get to see that a lot. But with the migration you get to see tons of snakes," said snake enthusiast Amity Johnston.
This is a special location, because northern species, both plants and animals, reach their southernmost range here.
Western and eastern species mix here as well.
The best time of the year to see the snakes is in the fall on a sunny afternoon, or again in late April when they wake up from a winter's sleep and head back to their summer feeding grounds.
Snake Migration A Popular Attraction