Year of the Snake Program to be Held at Stratton Brook

A special program at Stratton Brook State Park is planned for July 24 to help locals learn to love snakes, whom the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says are often misunderstood.

The program is part of the agency's 2013 "Year of the Snake" campaign, presented in partnership with the Beardsley Park Zoo. The year's worth of educational programs and activities is sponsored by the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.

Visitors will get to see snakes up close, with the help of zoo staff, and learn about snakes' role in the environment. The free programs run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and visitors may drop in any time. DEEP welcomes families, individuals, summer programs and play groups of all ages to attend the program, then enjoy a day at Stratton Brook.

According to DEEP, there are 14 species of snake living in Connecticut. Four of them(the common ribbonsnake, eastern hog-nosed snake, smooth greensnake, and timber rattlesnake) are currently on the state's endangered, threatened and special concern species list. Only two of Connecticut’s snakes are venomous - the northern copperhead and the endangered timber rattlesnake, which are not common in most areas and avoid human contact.

Learn more about the DEEP's Year of the Snake here.