You could have the eyes of a hawk if you can spot the camouflaged snake in the grass in this ‘blended’ optical illusion
SNAKES are extremely common across the country and half of the population is scared of them.
With this in mind, it means that having the ability to spot a snake hidden in the grass is vital.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources decided to test its followers on social media as a warning amid warmer weather.
On its Facebook page, the department posted two photographs of what appears to be a close-up of a patch of grass and leaves.
The post read: “I spy with my little eye something slithery.
“If you’re having a hard time finding the common garter snake in these pictures, don’t feel bad.
“The snake’s camouflage is working! Snakes and other creatures use camouflage to blend into their environment to either protect themselves from predators or give them an advantage while hunting prey.
“You can find them in a variety of environments including H2Ohio wetlands.
“Don’t forget to watch your step when you’re out enjoying the nice weather!”
In the first picture, what initially appears to be just grass, two eyes can be seen looking directly at the camera.
The tiny common garter snake has its head up between two blades of grass just to the right from the middle of the picture.
In the second photograph, it can be seen again with its head raised on the left edge of the picture.
Research entitled ‘Fear the Serpent’ in the National Library of Medicine reveals that “half of the population feel anxious about snakes.”
However, a number of people commented beneath the challenging post about how “cute” the garter snake is.
People replied saying: “That little face is just too cute” and another called it “so sweet.”
Less keen users said: “I don’t want to see it” and “I feel blind and scared.”
A number of people shared their own photographs of snakes they found in their area as the weather warms up.
One mom shared a funny story about her son’s encounter with a snake.
She said: “My 3yr old went to pick one up that I had caught and moved two weeks ago and it bit him and left two little marks on his finger but he laughed and said no bad worm and went about his day.
“Then I showed him a worm and he screamed and ran away because that wasn’t the danger noodle he just seen and got bit by.
“Worms scare him snakes don’t.”
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Garter snakes are identified by the long stripes on their body from which they get their name.
The slender, medium-sized reptiles are commonly found across the country and typically grow between 18 and 26 inches long.