Snake Road Closing So Snakes And Other Reptiles Can Cross

JONESBORO, Ill. (AP) - Snake Road in southern Illinois is closing to cars so snakes can cross without getting run over.

The Southern Illinoisan reports that the road winding through the Shawnee National Forest will close to vehicles beginning Sunday.

The road, more than 2 miles long, will stay closed until late October.

It's not just snakes. Frogs, turtles, newts and salamanders are also starting to migrate across the road from swamps to limestone bluffs where they'll spend the winter.

Some are endangered, so the Forest Service goes the extra mile to ensure their safety. People can still walk the road while it's closed to cars but are prohibited from collecting or handling the species.

According to a news release from Shawnee National Forest "the gradual, two-month migration event attracts people from across the country eager to witness the rich diversity of reptile and amphibian species along this single stretch of road."

The road will be closed again in March as the animals head back to the swamp.

Click here for a list of reptiles which may be seen during the migration.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.