You'll Never Believe Why This Illinois Road Shut Down For Weeks

There is a road in Illinois that has been closed for weeks and the reason is very strange.

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Why Would A Road In Illinois Be Shut Down

Though it doesn't happen very often, there are some good reasons why a road in Illinois would be closed for a significant amount of time. Maybe there is some road construction, it could have flooded over, trees could've fallen to block the street, and that's just naming a couple.

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Strange Reason An Illinois Road Was Closed For Several Weeks

I have to admit, this is a first for me. This has to be one of the strangest reasons I have ever heard for a road in Illinois to be shut down for several weeks. I don't think you could even guess without looking ahead.

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This unique cause of a street closure is snakes. Well, not just snakes but more specifically the migration of reptiles and amphibians. Have you ever heard of such a thing before?

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Why Do They Have To Closed The Road For Snakes, Reptiles, and Amphibians

This particular area has been nicknamed "Snake Road."

According to mystateline.com,

"The U.S. Forest Service has closed a small gravel road in Shawnee National Forest to allow for the safe migration of reptiles and amphibians."

"Every spring and fall, tens of thousands of snakes and other small animals cross a small stretch of gravel road between a series of limestone bluffs and LaRue Swamp."

"The animals will move from their hibernation spots in the bluffs to the swamp."

SteveByland

A large percentage of these types of creatures in Illinois live in this area. Around 59% of reptiles and 66% of amphibians. After waking up from hibernation, they make their way to the swamp. The road is usually blocked from March to May. It will again be closed in September and October when the animals go back to their winter homes.

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Visitors are allowed to walk through the area but it is against the law to mess with the snakes and other animals.

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