Just a quarter of snake species are venomous, and most snakes aren’t a threat to humans or pets. Yet snakes inspire fear in many people, whose overblown reactions often result in snakes being unnecessarily killed or removed from their habitats. In some states, rattlesnakes are pulled from their dens using poles tipped with fishhooks, then put on display and killed for the novelty of their meat.
Large snakes such as pythons, anacondas and boa constrictors can be legally kept as pets in many states, sometimes with painful (and even fatal) consequences for their owners. Many captive snakes are kept in tanks so small they can’t fully stretch out and most owners don’t have the expertise to safely care for them. Snakes are also targeted by the fashion industry for their skin.
Rather than using ears to hear, snakes rely on bones in their jaws to sense vibrations nearby.
Every day, more and more wildlife habitats are lost to the spread of development. Your gift can help create more humane backyards to protect all animals.
