CHICAGO — Have fortitude — not fear — if you come across one of the city's four types of snakes this spring, a local nature expert says.

"Snakes are nothing to be afraid of, particularly not in the Chicago region," said Chris Anchor, Senior Wildlife Biologist for Forest Preserves of Cook County. "So, if you see one on a hike, consider yourself lucky ... [and] keep a respectful distance and enjoy watching it as it continues on through the woods or water."

Chicago's four most common species of snake — common garter snake, northern water snake, smooth green snake and fox snake — are coming out of hibernation. Anchor said the region has one venomous native snake, the Massasauga rattlesnake, but it's next to impossible to find and there are no known populations within city limits.

Justin Breen with all the details:

Anchor would not disclose specific snake locations in Chicago because they're a target of poachers. Anchor did point out snakes don't like the "hardened" downtown landscape because they need places with leaf litter and vegetation that allow them to hide as they hunt and move from location to location.

He said snakes also might use a sewer or tunnel to hide out in the winter, but added: "They’re not going to be living exclusively in a sewer or tunnel."

Anchor noted snakes are a valuable part of the food chain, serving as a main predator of small rodents like mice and rats while being a food source for red-tailed hawks, great blue herons and other birds.

He said the snakes' biggest obstacle to survival is Chicago's plethora of roadways.

"Snake migration can be a particularly deadly time for snakes as they try to cross the many roads in urban areas," he said.

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