BY KAREN BOSSICK

Some people like to cringe at the thought of snakes, particularly the rattlesnakes that can be found in the southern part of the Wood River Valley.

But they actually are important for our ecosystem.

Charles(Chuck) Peterson, emeritus professor of zoology at Idaho State University, will discuss why their conservation is so important during a free talk at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at Hailey Town Center West, 116 S. River St.

Peterson will use place-based photography, which documents where a particular snake is found, in his presentation. He will bring a live rattlesnake, the only venomous snake in the Wood River Valley.

“Although we rarely think about snakes, they are important elements of biodiversity, with over 4,000 species worldwide,” said Kristin Fletcher, the library’s programs and community engagement manager. “They are important predators, helping to control rodent populations and the spread of some diseases.  They are also important prey, eaten by hawks, weasels, foxes, coyotes, wolves and even some other snakes.”

In addition, noted Fletcher, they are symbolically important in many cultures throughout the world.  For example, the Aztecs viewed Quetzalcoatl, or ‘Feathered Serpent,” as the god of wind and rain.

Peterson is the affiliate curator of Herpetology for the Idaho Museum of Natural History in Pocatello. Currently, he teaches Herpetology and Nature Photography, examining in particular the spatial, physiological and conservation ecology of amphibians and reptiles.

He also leads community science projects utilizing the iNaturalist mobile application to document the distribution and activity of amphibians and reptiles in Idaho and the Greater Yellowstone area.

His talk accompanies an exhibit on Snakes of Blaine County that will be up on the Hailey Public Library’s Mallory Wall through mid-December 2024.