Snake files: Do we really need snakes?
People often ask whether we really need snakes, especially venomous ones that can bite and kill people. Justifying the presence of any animal is an arrogant pursuit – they all form part of intricately balanced ecosystems that culminate in the bigger picture of life on earth – but let’s discuss a snake’s role in their particular ecosystem anyway.
Most importantly, snakes control vermin numbers. You might argue that other animals, like birds of prey and small carnivores, also contribute to vermin control with minimal risk to human safety, but snakes are unique in that they can increase their consumption twenty-fold in times when rodent populations explode.
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