World Snake Day 2025
World Snake Day occurs annually on July 16!🐍
Lunar New Year Coin of Kaa, New Zealand Mint (2025)
The Jungle Book, written by Rudyard Kipling in 1894, was my favourite book as a young child! We had the Disney version, accompanied with a vinyl record.
As an environmentalist I would be negligent to not celebrate the snake. It plays an important part in ecosystem health and often reduces rodent populations. I was also born in the year of the snake, and my older brother was terrified of snakes so it was my only means of revenge if I found a garter snake in the garden! I remember chasing him around the yard with it! (Poor snake)
Canada is home to one of the largest dens of red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis), who hibernate in a protected area north of Narcisse, Manitoba.[2] I have never been, but would definitely love to go see this amazing place in the spring when the snakes all come out of their hibernaculum.
Narcisse Wild Management Area
Red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis ssp. parietalis)
Photo: Kristina Stephens (2024) on iNaturalist - near the Elbow River, North Glenmore Park, Calgary, AB
Snakes come in so many colours and patterns, they really are beautiful. [1] They are not slimy but smooth and dry to the touch. As part of the Chinese Zodiac, many countries (including Canada) produce commemorative stamps and coins to celebrate this wonderful animal.
I adore jade, but somehow missed out on purchasing this beautiful coin produced this year by Burundi and made in fine silver and jade. It is already sold out at the Royal Canadian Mint. I did however purchase this lovely jadeite snake pendant to celebrate my birthday! (Photo: below, right) I have received many complements on this necklace every time I’ve worn it.
The Government of Alberta has produced a good brochure on Snakes of Alberta: A helpful guide for anyone living and working in Alberta. The only snake venomous to humans in Alberta is the Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). It is currently listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and as Sensitive by the Government of Alberta.[3]
Take a moment to think about this species today, and how you can help to protect them. Happy World Snake Day!
P.S. To learn more about the importance of snakes, check out this animated video 'What if All Snakes Disappeared? The Importance of Snakes in the Environment | The Dr. Binocs Show’.💚😆
[1] Back when Pinterest was a thing - I even created a snake file https://ca.pinterest.com/debbyadonnelly/year-of-the-snake/
[2] ABP Live News (2025) Inside The World’s Largest Snake Gathering — The Narcisse Snake Dens Of Manitoba. Posted online Apr 2, 2025.
[3] Crotalus viridis - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/64339/12771847 (last assessed in 2007) ; https://www.alberta.ca/lookup/wild-species-status-search.aspx
