Pipsqueak the Gophersnake shows kids how wonderful and friendly snakes are; photographed by Jeff Smith.Local nonprofit Advocates for Snake Preservation is co-organizing the worldwide awareness week, which includes a July 19 event in Santa Clara with live, friendly snakes and educational videos
SILVER CITY, New Mexico — The inaugural World Snake Week takes place this month and you can participate in Grant county or online.
Advocates for Snake Preservation (ASP) is part of the team organizing the first-ever World Snake Week, which takes place July 13-19. More than 50 in-person and online events will be coordinated internationally by conservation groups, scientists, zoos, museums, and herpetological societies. These special events will celebrate the world of snakes.
"Snakes are important predators and prey, and their presence indicates a healthy and productive ecosystem," executive director of ASP and Snake Week co-organizer Melissa Amarello said. "Snakes share many traits that we value in people, like caring for their young and retaining close ties with relatives. Snake Week offers many opportunities to learn more about our scaley neighbors."
Thirsty snakes: an Arizona Black Rattlesnake and Striped Whipsnake enjoy a drink outside their den after a dry winter; photographed by Melissa Amarello.To celebrate locally, join ASP for Snake Stories on Tap at Open Space Brewing at 11990 US 180, Santa Clara, New Mexico on July 19 at 6:00 p.m. Meet co-founders along with other members of Team ASP, including some of their friendly snake teachers. They'll have multimedia snake stories, literature, stickers, and other swag to share. Get your questions answered in-person and share your snake stories while enjoying delicious brews from the awesome folks at Open Space – non-alcoholic and gluten-free options available.
Worldwide, snake enthusiasts are participating in the awareness week, which aims to promote snake education, awareness, conservation, and help shift negative attitudes towards snakes. Participating countries include Ecuador, India, Australia, Philippines, UK, France, Peru, and others.
World Snake Week is organized by Advocates for Snake Preservation, Project RattleCam, and the Australian Reptile Academy.
Prior to this year's events, ASP and other organizations have celebrated World Snake Day on July 16 for many years.
"We're so excited to toast the inaugural World Snake Week with local snake enthusiasts," Amarello said. "Because snakes are too cool to have only one day, right?"
For more information about World Snake Week, go to: www.SnakeWeek.org.
For more information about Snake Stories on Tap, go to: www.openspacebrewing.com/events/snake-stories-on-tap
About Advocates for Snake Preservation
ASP promotes compassionate conservation and coexistence with snakes through science, education, and advocacy. As important predators and prey, snakes are an essential part of a vibrant, functioning planet, but negative attitudes about snakes may be the biggest barrier to their conservation. ASP provides solutions to everyday human-snake conflicts that sometimes end badly for people and often prove fatal for snakes and makes snakes more familiar and less scary by busting myths and sharing stories of what snakes are really like. ASP was founded in 2014 and is based in Silver City, New Mexico. For more information, visit www.snakes.ngo.
