Noise drives snakes to streets of Belgrade: If you see an aesculapian snake, just do one thing

Photo: Wikimedia/FelixReimann

During only the last couple of days, Belgraders in Slavija, Kosovska Street and Djeram have reported seeing a snake in their area. One also appeared at the entrance to a building in Dorcol. When people see a snake, they don't know if it's poisonous, and should know that the ones appearing in the city are always harmless. These are mostly aesculapian and grass snakes, protected by law.

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Aesculapian snake is a strictly protected and harmless animal species. It poses no danger to people other than in terms of its appearance.

"It is very harmless, because it feeds on small animals. For people, apart from the aesthetic factor, it does not represent any danger, it should certainly not be disturbed," Kristijan Ovari, a biologist with the Beo Zoo, explained for RTS.

Aesculapian snakes are present in the cities. In fact, they live where there are mice, and there are enough of them in Belgrade.

"That amazing animal species is all around us. They loves rocky areas, old abandoned buildings, basements, in fact they love all those places where mice naturally go to," says Ovari.

If we see an aesculapian snake, there is no reason to be afraid, because it is harmless. Just pass it by.

"If we are very afraid, then it is always the easiest to grab a broom and just move it gently to the side, because it's important to understand that the snake is much more afraid of us than we are of it," Ovari stressed.

In the center of the city, especially in Dorcol, there have been many reconstruction works in recent months. The sun, noise and construction is what has brought the snakes outside.

"The vibration of the ground is felt very well and of course these construction works create not small but rather large vibrations. That automatically scares all the underground animals, so that, among others, snakes come to the surface, in order to escape from the source of the noise or the possibility of soil collapsing," says Ovari.

Aesculapian snakes are timid animals, they do not attack and they are not poisonous. They will escape if you approach them to a few meters. There is no reason to kill them, they are harmless, and killing them is also punishable by law, because they are a protected species.

Fear of snakes is called ophidiophobia and can be overcome. We have exterminated enough animals, we don't need to do the same to this species, too. Maybe it's better to overcome our fears.

(Telegraf.rs)