Read About Endangered Snakes

Endangered snakes are common attractions at zoos around the world. Everything you need to know about them is contained in this article.

Endangered Snakes - Facts

  1. Description:

    Endangered snakes are snakes that are facing extinction.
  2. Varieties:

    There are over 2,600 different types of snakes in the world. Four of the main snakes are facing extinction. They are The San Francisco Garter Snake, Eastern Indigo Snake, The King Cobra, and Dumeril's Boa.
  3. History:

    Snakes go back to the dinosaur age. The first endangered snake, which is now extinct and has been since 1966, was the San Francisco Garter Snake.
  4. Physical Traits:

    Snakes have bodies that are covered in scales that they shed periodically. Their eyes are covered with transparent scales, thus they have no eyelids. They also have no external ears and have no limbs.
  5. Other Defining Characteristics:

    Some snakes hibernate, and most all like some sort of place to hide in their environment. Some snake's birth live young while others are egg layers.
  6. Habitat:

    There are so many varieties of snakes that you will find them in just about any kind of habitat from deserts to prairies to forests to lakeshores. The only place you will not find snakes is Antarctica.

Endangered Snakes - Concerns

  1. Benefits:

    Most snakes will feed on rodents, this is why a lot of farmers do not mind snakes being around their farm. The snakes help to keep the mice population to a minimum and the farmers do not have to fuss with the mice.
  2. Liabilities:

    Some snakes can become aggressive especially when it's feeding time. There are also several breeds of snakes that are venomous, care should be taken when near these types of snakes.
  3. Health Issues:

    Snakes can be very prone to stress. Wild caught snakes are also prone to having diseases and parasites that can be harmful to both the snake and its handler.
  4. Specific Care Needs:

    Some snakes have difficulty with shedding, to help this along, snakes need access to logs and branches to aid them. Some snakes also need additional moisture during shedding, misting the terrarium during this time will aid in the shedding process. This will not be an issue for you though because you will not be able to own an endangered snake.
  5. Reaction to Children and other Pets:

    This should not be an issue. It is illegal to own an endangered snake. You will only be able to see these snakes at a zoo, or a place that houses endangered snakes through glass. Do not allow children to go up and strike the glass, it can stress the snake out.
  6. Special Household Needs:

    There is no special household needs because you cannot keep an endangered snake.

Endangered Snakes - How to Choose

  1. What to Look for:

    When wanting to view an endangered snake, you can contact your local zoo or herpetology association to find out where you can view these endangered snakes.
  2. Supplies:

    You might want to take a camera or video recorder with you. Just be prepared you might not be able to use anything with a flash because it could stress the snakes.
  3. Expense:

    It varies depending on where you are going to view the snakes, whether it be going to your local zoo or a snake show.