A quiet road in southern Illinois has an unusual distinction: it disappears from the traffic map twice a year, leaving snakes, frogs and turtles to cross without the threat of passing cars.
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it → have → cars
Known as Snake Road, the route runs through the Shawnee National Forest between LaRue Swamp and the LaRue-Pine Hills limestone bluffs.
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route → know → Swamp
National Geographic's educational account describes how the road crosses a seasonal migration route used by snakes and other reptiles moving between the two habitats.
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road → describe → habitats
Seasonal closures began in 1972, where the road is not permanently closed.
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road → begin → 1972
The spectacle attracts wildlife enthusiasts hoping to spot dozens of snakes in their natural surroundings, while highlighting how a simple road can become a serious obstacle for migrating wildlife.
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road → attract → wildlife
The snake migration route across Snake Road
The animals are not crossing simply because the road happens to be in their way.
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road → cross → way
Their seasonal movements take them between the swamp and the rocky hills on opposite sides.
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movements → take → sides
During warmer months, the swamp provides feeding and living areas.
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swamp → provide → areas
When the seasons change, many reptiles head towards the limestone bluffs, where cracks, caves and rocky spaces offer places to shelter during colder weather.
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cracks → change → weather
The return journey happens in spring.
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journey → happen → spring
LaRue Road sits directly across this route.
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Road → sit → route
That creates a problem because reptiles are often drawn to the road surface when temperatures are cooler in the morning and evening.
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temperatures → create → morning
The warmed pavement can become an attractive place to rest, leaving slow-moving animals exposed to passing vehicles.
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pavement → become → vehicles
The area is also home to species that are unusual this far north, including cottonmouths and southern leopard frogs.
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that → include → cottonmouths
How Snake Road’s seasonal closures protect migrating reptiles
The decision to restrict traffic dates back to 1972.
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decision → protect → 1972
The road was closed during the migration periods to reduce the number of reptiles being killed by vehicles.
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road → close → vehicles
The closures were initially unpopular with some people living nearby, according to wildlife officials quoted in reports about Snake Road.
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closures → live → Road
Over the years, that opposition eased as the purpose of the restriction became better understood.
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purpose → ease → restriction
Today, the road is closed during the spring and autumn migrations.
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road → close → migrations
The exact dates cover roughly two months in each season, giving animals a vehicle-free route between the two habitats.
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dates → cover → habitats
If cars are removed from a road that thousands of reptiles need to cross, the immediate danger of being struck is removed too.
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danger → remove → reptiles
Snakes, turtles and frogs share Snake Road’s migration route
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Snakes → share → route
Despite its name, snakes are not the only animals using the route.
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snakes → use → route
Frogs, toads and turtles also make the journey between the swamp and the bluffs.
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Frogs → make → swamp
Northern copperheads are among them, although they can be difficult to spot in southern Illinois.
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they → spot → Illinois
That does not mean visitors are surrounded by snakes every time they walk the road.
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they → mean → road
Herpetologist Scott Ballard, who has studied the area, has said seeing around 20 snakes during a visit would already be a good day.
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seeing → study → visit
People come not only to look for reptiles but also to walk through the forest and limestone landscape.
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People → come → forest
How swamps and limestone cliffs create a vital wildlife route
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swamps → create → route
On one side is LaRue Swamp, connected to the wider Mississippi River region.
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Swamp → connect → region
On the other are the LaRue-Pine Hills, where limestone cliffs rise to around 46 metres, as reported.
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cliffs → rise → metres
The limestone has weathered into ridges, caves and crevices.
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limestone → weather → ridges
These spaces give reptiles places where temperatures are more suitable during the colder months, while the surrounding forest and swamp provide different resources at other times of year.
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forest → give → year
The road happens to run through it.
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road → happen → it
Reptiles are particularly vulnerable on roads because they move slowly and often remain still when approached.
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they → move → roads
A warm road surface can make the danger worse by encouraging them to stop directly in the path of traffic.
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danger → make → traffic
Snake researcher Rich Seigel has estimated that vehicles have killed close to one in four snakes in the area studied.
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vehicles → estimate → area
Across the United States, road deaths have also taken a significant toll on snakes and other reptiles.
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deaths → take → snakes
According to The National Geographic, Wildlife officials, Ballard and Deaton said that they see fewer dead reptiles on the road during the closure.
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they → accord → closure
Why snakes matter beyond Snake Road
Snakes are often treated as unwanted visitors, but their place in the local food chain is more practical than that reputation suggests.
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reputation → matter → chain
…and 19 more, not listed.
The Aporia
