No snake mothers her babies the way humans do, but the python mother makes a nest and coils up on her eggs to keep them safe until they hatch. There are about 2,600 different kinds of snakes. Of these, about 400 are poisonous. There are 126 different kinds of snakes in the United States. Only 19 are harmful to people.
Snakes are very helpful.
The small ones eat harmful bugs and insects. The big ones eat rats, mice, gophers, and animals that destroy crops. Good farmers and gardeners know how helpful most snakes are and are happy to have them around. All snakes except those that threaten people should be kept safe from harm. Excerpted from The Complete Teacher's Almanack .