The snake really needs a better publicist.

It’s easy to get a person worked up about saving cute panda bears, cheeky dolphins, or tough little butterflies, but mention snakes, and you’re more likely to see that same person reach for a heavy shovel. Yet snakes are vital predators in many ecosystems around the world, and are just as much in need of conservation as the cuddly critters.

That’s why the Center for Snake Conservation (CSC) is holding a snake count from May 12-20 this year (and again from September 15-23). The goal is to document all the species of snakes currently in the United States in a specific time window. The data collected will be used by the CSC to map the current distribution of snakes.

The site provides suggestions on what to include in your snake counting tool kit, and of course, safety tips if you live in an area where the snake population is venomous (hint: don’t try to catch them).

Photo by Trevor Cole on Unsplash