After reading the story on snakes in the park, I felt compelled to write. Snakes are very misunderstood creatures. I believe it has something to do with the Bible's reference to them in Genesis as being the creature that talked Eve into eating the apple.

In my Bible, it refers to a "serpent," not a snake.

People fear what they do not understand. Snakes are wonderful pest controllers. They keep the rat and mice population down, they keep the bug problem down and, as stated in the article, if left alone, they do no harm, other then possibly scaring a person when he or she gets too close and the snakes are trying to seek cover.

Even rattlesnakes and copperheads are good and, if left alone, are harmless. All my children have been brought up to respect snakes and not fear them. We have explained to them, from little on up, to not kill a snake if they see one, to just let it go on its way and not touch them. We have plenty of garter snakes, black snakes and water snakes where we live. We see snakes around our home everyday. They deserve to live, just as the rest of God's creatures do. They serve a purpose in this world. My advice is: Don't be afraid, get informed.

Information helps to stem the hysteria of fear and the unknown.

Lori Luckenbaugh,

Beaver Springs