Snakes, Snakes, Snakes

In response to Jenny Beers's question, "What is an animal you can't stand? Do some research and see how valuable they actually are, still feel the same way?"...

     If there is one animal I cannot stand, it is definitely a snake. First of all, I will admit that they make me uneasy. Second, what use do they really have to the ecosystem? Well, taking Jenny's suggestion I did some research, and this is what I discovered. By eating other animals, they help farmers keep the rodent population in check so that their crops do not get ruined. They essentially ensure that farmers do not have to use harmful pesticides.  Also, snake venom can be used to make anti-venom and can even aid in treating certain diseases.
     So, I have to admit now that snakes are not just useless and frightening. But, why is it that so many humans fear them? For one thing, Satan and other evil entities are often depicted as snakes in religious texts, but this cannot be the only explanation. Is a fear of snakes perhaps part of our nature? Upon doing some more research, I found an article that explained an experiment in which a fake snake was placed in a cage of monkeys, and they reacted in much the same way humans do - got very scared. So, does our fear trace back to a time when we were less evolved primates? For a long time snakes have been predators to primates, and in the article it asserts that perhaps we have the relatively good eyesight we do because we have adapted to spot snakes in the wilderness. However, I am not quite sure if I believe these claims. I think that it is in our nature to fear them, but perhaps it just has something to do with how they look (i.e. slithery, fangs).  What are some things that you believe are in our nature to fear?

This is the article I was talking about: http://www.livescience.com/5468-ll-fear-snakes.html