It turned out to be a grass snake when I got closer. Crushed. A snake in the middle of a street in the metropolis. Cars and people were speeding by, but nobody else appeared to notice, save for me. A chill went through my body. It was the unsettling feeling that something was wrong, not just the sight of the snake. And this wasn’t a unique instance.
Snakes have become much more prevalent in the city in recent years. Stories like urban legends have been traded in neighbourhood groups and local web discussions. One person reported seeing a snake slithering across their rear garden, while another claimed to have seen one curled up close to their apartment entrance. Snakes have been observed on balconies, stairwells, and even inside houses, according to reports. After it infiltrated through a ventilation shaft, one woman claimed she almost trod on one in her laundry room.
The invisible boundary between their world and ours seems to have dissolved. What was once shocking and uncommon has suddenly become disturbingly commonplace. People are responding with a mixture of curiosity and dread, not knowing if they should call pest control or just write about it online.
Experts in biology and the environment are not shocked. They cite three main causes: diminishing wild habitats, rising temperatures, and climate change. Animals like grass snakes must adapt to the paved-over natural areas and the more unpredictable seasons, which occasionally requires them to infiltrate human areas in quest of food, shelter, or warmth. Fortunately, grass snakes don’t have venom and don’t really threaten humans. Even so, it can be extremely unsettling to see one in an unexpected place.
Nevertheless, you can take certain doable precautions to lessen the likelihood of coming into contact with a snake. Keep your exterior areas clutter-free and spotless, including your stairwells, balconies, and yards. You can use rubbish, wooden boards, or piles of leaves as hiding places. Particularly in older buildings or ground-floor apartments, be cautious to seal any gaps and fractures surrounding your house. Give your shoes or bags a little shake before using them if you keep them in unheated areas like garages or porches.
And most importantly, do not panic if you do spot a snake. Avoid touching it or attempting to kill it. Give the local wildlife control or animal rescue a call. They are capable of managing the issue in a way that is safe for both you and the animal.
The city’s snake population is a reflection of the times we live in. In subtle and not-so-subtle ways, nature is recovering territory and is no longer confined to the area beyond the urban limit. We’ll need to learn how to get along. Knowledge, readiness, and a little deference go a long way. This world is not solely ours, after all.
