Snakes have value. When you find one in the wild, it's like finding a rare gem. Whether you outright fear them, or simply respect them, they never fail to inspire, or awe.

But snakes are in a world of danger. In a world of diminishing habitats, they suffer from the same effects of environmental degradation as other animals, but with the added burden of being targets. Targets of persecution. Of antipathy.

And what's surprising is that, when it comes to saving endangered species, snakes and reptiles are often overlooked. They don't get the same attention as cuter animals we're asked to save. Yet healthy ecosystems depend on these animals. Reptiles and amphibians are often the bellwethers of habitat health. To see a snake in the wild is to see a forest on the mend.

When you save a snake in the wild, you save the ecosystem in which it lives. When you save an Eastern Indigo, you save a longleaf pine forest. When you save a Bushmaster in Central America, you save a virgin rainforest. When you care for the least among the animals in the wild, you care for all the animals.

So, why does it matter? Because snakes have value. Their physiology holds many clues to important medical advances. Their presence in the forest brings balance to an ecosystem. Their mystique has played important roles in our arts and culture. They're key players in the world we live in.

A snake is worth protecting, because a world without snakes would be a world out of balance.

And a pretty boring place, at that.