I realised it was a grass snake when I got closer. crushed. In the centre of a city street is a snake. No one seemed to notice, except for me, as cars and people sped by. It sent a chill through me. Not simply the snake’s appearance, but also the unsettling feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Furthermore, this was not a unique instance.
Snake sightings in the city have increased significantly in recent years. People have started exchanging stories like urban legends in neighbourhood organisations and local online chat rooms. One person claimed to have seen a snake curled up close to their apartment entrance, while another reported seeing one slithering through their rear garden. Snakes have reportedly been seen on balconies, stairwells, and even inside houses. One woman claimed that after it infiltrated through a ventilation shaft, she almost trod on one in her laundry room.
It appears as though the invisible boundary between their world and ours has become less distinct. Unsettlingly commonplace is what was once uncommon and shocking. Concerned about whether to call pest control or just post about it online, people are responding with a mixture of curiosity and fear.
Environmental specialists and biologists are not shocked. Rising temperatures, diminishing wild habitats, and climate change are cited as the main causes. Animals like grass snakes are compelled to adapt as natural areas are paved over and seasons grow more unpredictable, which occasionally entails coming into human areas in quest of food, shelter, or warmth. Fortunately, grass snakes are not poisonous and do not actually threaten people. Finding one in an unexpected place, however, might still be extremely unsettling.
Nevertheless, there are doable actions you may do to lessen the likelihood of coming into contact with a snake. Make sure all of your outside areas, including stairwells, balconies, and yards, are clutter-free and spotless. Trash, wooden boards, or piles of leaves can all serve as hiding places. Seal any holes and cracks around your house, particularly in ground-floor apartments or older buildings. Before using shoes or bags that are kept in unheated areas, such as garages or porches, give them a little shake.
Above all, maintain your composure if you do spot a snake. Don’t try to kill it or touch it. Contact the local wildlife control or animal rescue organisations. They are prepared to manage the issue in a way that will protect you and the animal.
Snakes in the city are a symbol of the times we live in. Nature is reclaiming space in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways, and it is no more something that exists solely beyond the urban border. We will need to learn to live together. A little respect, awareness, and readiness go a long way. This isn’t just our world, after all.