welcoming year of the snake

 of least concern

the common grass snake is 7" at birth and can grow to more than 3'.  It is protected in Denmark and in some Baltic countries is considered sacred with the myth that killing one might bring misfortune.

to a snake that is critically endangered

the ornate ground snake, or St Lucia racer, an endemic snake that was once found all over St Lucia, but now is the rarest with fewer than 20 individuals.