While I was walking down a busy city street the other day, scrolling through my phone, half-aware of the world around me, something odd caught my eye.
In the middle of the concrete path lay a small, crushed grass snake. It was lifeless, half-flattened, its greenish body twisted in a way that made my stomach turn. People walked past it without so much as a glance. Cars sped by, unaware of what had just been run over.
And yet, I couldn’t look away. The image stayed with me long after I walked on. It wasn’t just the snake it was what it represented. This wasn’t an isolated event.
Over the past few weeks, local residents have been sharing photos and stories online of unexpected snake encounters in backyards, slithering across patios, near apartment doorways, even inside homes through balcony gaps and vents.
Encounters are becoming more common—and in the most unexpected places. Specialists are sounding the alarm, pointing to a troubling trend: climate change and urban development are driving wildlife deeper into city environments. As natural habitats disappear, animals are left with a stark choice—adapt or perish.
The increasing number of grass snake sightings is just one example of this growing imbalance.
Though these snakes are harmless and non-aggressive, their presence still causes alarm.
Seeing them in urban areas is jarring and reflects a deeper issue. Nature is drawing closer—sometimes right to our doorsteps.
