Did You Know Illinois Has an Infamous ‘Snake Road’ That Shuts Down Twice a Year?

Today I learned there is a road in Southern Illinois that shuts down for several months each year because of snakes, and I am NOT okay.

"Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?"

Typically, I love all of God's creatures, but spiders, wasps, and snakes are my three exceptions. I know they all serve an important purpose on this planet, but I sure wish terrifying people wasn't one of them.

Obviously,  hating these creatures doesn't mean they shouldn't be protected, and today I learned there is one road in Southern Illinois that takes its snake protection mission very seriously.

Snake Road in Illinois

Twice a year, (from mid-March to mid-May, and the beginning of September to the end of October), Snake Road, aka, LaRue Road located in the Shawnee National Forest, closes down for one very disturbing, yet fascinating, reason: snake and amphibian migration.

READ MORE: Illinois' Most Snake Infested Lakes

Just how bad is it? Here's a short glimpse of Snake Road during peak migration time...

Just in case you weren't sure, those are VENOMOUS cottonmouth snakes you're seeing cross the road!!!

You can miss me with that, but if viewing snakes migrating is something you'd be into, here's a map of where you need to go from the US Forest Service...

Cottonmouth snakes, frogs, and turtles aren't the only creatures you will see crossing Snake Road each Spring and Fall, here are some more of the creatures that call the LaRue Pine Hills home:

• Broadheaded Skinks
• Zigzag salamanders
• Northern Fence Lizards
• Central Newts
• Bobcast
• Bald eagles
• Indiana bats
• Armadillos

I will admit that seeing all of these creatures in their natural habitats could be cool, but if I was hiking down the road and encountered a snake coming at me, I would die...literally.

To find out more about the LaRue Pine Hills area and Snake Road in Illinois, click here.