A lesser known fungal parasite is well established in North America and recent surveys show its spreading. Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola causes snake fungal disease (SFD) and has serious potential to change the way ecosystems function. Many predatory snake species provide top down control in a variety of ecosystems in the United States and Europe, and ultimately permit more species diversity. This fungus shares many ecological similarities with other destructive general fungal parasites, so it is not to be taken lightly.