Snakes can hear better than we give them credit for

When it comes to what freaks American adults out, snakes rank right up there with heights, public speaking, and bugs. They can carry lethal venom in their bites and be strong enough to strangle and eat alligators. Still, snakes are an important part of the ecosystem as a whole because they help control pest populations and help maintain the planet’s biodiversity.

They can also probably hear all of the bad things humans are saying about them. In a study published February 14 in the journal PLOS One found that snakes can hear and react to sounds in the air in addition to feeling…