Most people value wildlife encounters, and there’s a fascination that comes from a taxa so vastly different than our own. But, many species of reptiles and amphibians are declining in the wild, facing threats such as habitat loss, unscrupulous collection, and disease. Therefore, great care must be taken to ensure that we do not negatively impact that which we love.

Snake Fungal Disease (SFD) is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola and it poses a significant threat to wild snakes in the eastern United States. First discovered in 2006 in a declining New Hampshire population of timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus), SFD has now been recorded in over a dozen species.

What do you call the post-mortem examination of an animal? The appropriate term is “necropsy,” derived from necro (“death”)….

Biologists have discovered that snake fungal disease has the potential to infect any type of snake. If the disease spreads, it could pose a global threat to ecosystems.