Black snakes at swimming lakes: Animal rights activists warn of danger!

Black snakes at swimming lakes: Animal rights activists warn of danger!

The lakes and gardens in Germany are not only gaining in beauty, but also in animal diversity. Recently, however, there has been an increasing number of sightings of snakes, especially black grass snakes, which are causing uncertainty for many people. Swabian reports an increase in these remarkable reptiles in bathing lakes as well as in urban and natural gardens. What’s special about it? All reported specimens are black and often belong to the species Natrix natrix, known as the grass snake.

The calls of animal rights activists are getting louder because the increasing number of surveillances goes hand in hand with the population's unfounded concerns. Many fear seeing poisonous or abandoned snakes. But the black grass snake is harmless, a gift of nature that is protected. However, its coloring, which is caused by a gene mutation called melanism, causes confusion - it is often mistaken for the adder, the only poisonous snake in Germany. The grass snake is a skilled swimmer and is mainly found near bodies of water and wetlands.

Sightings and special features

In North Rhine-Westphalia, particularly in Witten, there is a particularly noticeable increase in sightings. How Ruhr24 reports that the Ruhr Area Wilderness School has received more than 50 emergency calls about these animals in the past few weeks. Citizens are unsure and call for help, worried that there could be dangerous snakes. The reality is completely different: 90-95% of reports concern native snakes such as the grass snake. Only a fraction are exotic species such as pythons or corn snakes.

Curiously, a grass snake recently clogged a gutter while another disrupted a city's traffic lights. These animal “disturbances” show in a humorous way how much the snake, despite its inconspicuous lifestyle, influences urban life. Snakes were also repeatedly seen by the population in other cities such as Duisburg, Dortmund and Essen.

Conservation and awareness raising

Animal rights activists appeal to the public to leave the snakes alone. Their natural habitat is supported by increasing natural gardens and watering holes where they feed on amphibians. It is therefore important to overcome fear of these animals - they are useful for the ecosystem and help maintain biodiversity. Killing snakes, regardless of the reason, can cost up to 50,000 euros in fines Swabian makes clear.

If you see a snake and don't know how to deal with it, help is available. You can report sightings to 01577/2949225 to inform authorities. Only six of around 3,000 snake species worldwide live in Germany - and it is important that we take care of them. When encountering these fascinating creatures, it is important to remain calm and maintain a respectful distance. After all, they are part of our nature and contribute to biodiversity.