Snake Road Sentinels
Snake Road Sentinels is a community science program designed to collect data on snakes and visitor use at Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest.
Closed to vehicle traffic every spring and fall for snake migration, Snake Road is located within LaRue-Pine Hills/Otter Pond Research Natural Area. It is known nationally as well as worldwide.
Little research has been conducted on the snake abundance and shifts in migration patterns, and this project is a way for the public to be involved in collecting this data each spring and fall.
Additionally, visitor use data (number of visitors and number of vehicles) can track the growing popularity of the site and inform decisions such as road and parking improvement and need for additional education and outreach.
This program began with a pilot in 2022 and was fully launched in spring 2023. In 2024, growing interest in becoming a community scientist for Snake Road inspired us to create an online training program. In 2025, we officially launched the training to complement and enhance our in-person workshop.
In partnership with the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois Extension hosts training workshops at the end of winter and summer to prepare participants for the spring and fall road closures. Those interested in becoming a Snake Road Sentinel can register here. The fall 2026 in-person training will be August 22 from 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. in Jonesboro. An online option will also be available.
Not sure you want to be a sentinel but still interested in learning more about snakes?
We have a snake identification quiz coming soon for anyone to take to test your snake knowledge.
