HARRISBURG – Forest Service Road No. 345, also known as Snake Road, in the Shawnee National Forest is closed until Oct. 30 for the fall migration.

The closure is done two times a year. It helps ensure safe crossing for several species of snakes and amphibians during this critical time of migration. Some of them are considered threatened and endangered in Illinois and the United States. They migrate from their winter habitat in the limestone bluffs across the road to their summer habitat in LaRue Swamp.

About 66 percent of the amphibians and 59 percent of the reptiles known to occur in Illinois are found here.

Though the road is closed to vehicles, it is open to people traveling on foot. Special regulations apply to the area.

Visitors may see volunteers primarily on weekends, but occasionally on a weekday, assisting the Forest Service with counting snakes, people, and cars that visit the area. Training was recently conducted with Snake Sentinels, volunteers for Snake Road, that covered datasheets and snake identification.