We have developed an informative campaign, coinciding with the Snake World Day, to explain how to act when you see a native snake and raise awareness about the need to protect them.

With the arrival of high temperatures, reptiles become more active which leads to more encounters than usual between people and these “scaly” cold-blooded animals. Through this reality, experts have started an informative campaign to raise awareness and sensitise society about how to act in these cases.

Normally the first and last hours of the day, when the heat is less intense, these reptiles tends to come out of its shelter. Ignorance towards these animals makes some people react with fear to them and even in some cases attack them. Terra Natura Benidorm’s herpetologist, David Marti, insists that “when snakes see us, they always tend to flee” and these animals “don´t want to do us any harm”.

However, the specialist says “if snakes feel cornered and perceive that they cannot escape, they will try to defend themselves.” For this reason, Marti remind us that snakes in Spain don´t suppose any danger to people in general, there is only three species of vipers that are truly dangerous, although it is very difficult for someone to see them.

The ladder snake, horseshoe snake, viperine snake or southern smooth snake are harmless. In the case of the bastard snake, who is two metres long, it does have venom, although it is not very powerful, in fact, its intensity is similar to the poison of a wasp, so in case of a bite it does not exist risk of mortality. Only vipers that are characterised by having a vertical pupil, a triangular head, and the scales on the head of the same shape and size as those on the body are dangerous.

Likewise, from Terra Natura Benidorm we remember that all species of snakes are protected, so under no circumstances they should be harmed, and they are also important for the ecosystems balance, keeping the populations of other animals under control, like rodents. Reptiles are an important element as natural pest controller.

If someone bumps into a snake, the best thing to do is to get out of their way avoiding disturbing it and if they are in a place that seems dangerous for people or for the animal itself, we will need to notify the authorities, who will take the care and precaution necessary to later relocate the snake into a safe place outside the urban environment.