Can you find the snake in this photo?

Summer is almost upon us, which means tons of outdoor fun is on its way. From hiking to camping trips to gardening, warm weather means that we get to enjoy Mother Nature in all its glory…but let’s not forget that Mother Nature means business!

Around 8,000 people are bit by poisonous snakes in the United States each year. It’s important to be educated about the snakes in your area, and to teach your kids to respect wildlife and leave snakes alone.

However, the problem with snakes is that they are experts at camouflage. They can hide in plain sight without passerby being any the wiser, meaning that they could nip an unlucky hiker or camper who gets too close. Think you have what it takes to spot one of these reptiles?

Here’s a fun challenge that will help you to see just how difficult it is to see a snake laying in wait. Take a look at the photo below and see how long it takes you to spot the snake.

Can you see it? Look a little closer!

Here’s the snake outlined in yellow:

Wow! That is nearly impossible to find. (And, yes, I cheated!)

But the difficult-to-spot snake proves an important point: Someone could easily have walked right past that snake without ever seeing it. This would have threatened the snake, and it may have lashed out and bitten in defense.

So how can you protect yourself while outdoors? Well, make sure that you are dressed appropriately for the environment. Wear snake boots and/or snake gaiters if you know that you are going to be in an area that has many snakes (especially if you’re in a place known for  venoumous snakes.) You should also exercise caution when walking through tall grass, and never stick your hand in a hole or crevasse. And remember, snakes can climb, so don’t just survey the ground—look up at the tree branches as well, especially if they are hanging low near your head.

And, if you are camping, don’t put your tent in snake territory. This means don’t pitch a tent near a big log or near tall grass or rocky areas. And keep shoes and clothing zipped up inside your tent so that you don’t get an unpleasant surprise when you put on your shoes in the morning.

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Finally, remember that snakes don’t have it in for you. If you don’t mess with them, they will probably leave you alone. And snakes are very important for our ecosystem, so let them slither about in peace. Which shouldn’t be too hard considering you probably won’t even see them in the first place!