BY MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Missouri Department of Conservation is showing off snakes at Krug Park Thursday.
A free program will educate people about Missouri snakes, and the role they play in the ecological system.
Bill Graham with the Department of Conservation says people have an unfounded fear of snakes, and the hope is that this program will help qualm those fears, as well as educate those who are curious.
"We want this program to be for those that want to work on their fear about snakes, if you know more about them," Graham says. "But, also many people are just simply curious about snakes. They've seen them, they're unusual, snakes come in a wide variety of colors sizes, they can do interesting things."
Graham says people should know most snakes in Missouri are harmless, but that doesn't mean they should be handled.
"Any snake doesn't like to be picked up and handled to much," Graham tells St. Joseph Post. "Some of them you can pick up and handle very easily, some of them you can pick up and they might take a bite at you and scare the heck out of you, even though it's just teeth, it's not going to be any serious big deal."
Graham says that while most snakes are harmless, there are a few poisonous snakes around Missouri. But, he reiterates that if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.
The program will bring a lot of information about snakes, ranging from how wide their mouths can open, to how many bones are in their bodies. It will also provide a safe, up-close look at the creatures.
"Our MDC naturalist Shelby Smith will also have some local snakes, I'm not sure what species, but she'll have three or four snakes there that people can look at up close, I don't know if they're going to be handled or not, but they'll for get a close look and a safe look," Graham added.
The program is free for all ages and will run from 6-7 p.m. COVID protocols will be followed and registration will be required. You can find a link to register for this event can be found HERE.