With summer heating up, an increasing number of snakes have been sighted in lowland areas, presenting a threat to rural residents.
The fire department of Changhua County has recorded a surge in snake sightings within its jurisdiction since the beginning of last month, with an average of five requests a day to capture the reptiles.
Chiu Tsung-chia (邱聰佳), captain of No. 1 Firefighter Division of Changhua, said the number of calls now being received was 50 times more than the average of three calls a month over the January-to-April period.
“Since May, we have been busy despatching units to catch snakes. Not all were captured, but we have removed more than 80 snakes for the public,” Chiu said.
He said that the most common sightings were the Taiwanese stink snake (臭青母, Elaphe carinata) and the Taiwanese beauty snake (錦蛇, Elaphe taeniura), both of which are non-venomous.
Poisonous ones have also been encountered, including the Taiwanese krait (雨傘節, Bungarus multicinctus) and the pointed-scaled pit viper (龜殼花, Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus).
Under law, snakes that are caught must be passed to the local department of agriculture.
“In the past, most snakes were found in mountains and hilly areas, but in the past few years, we have seen more of them in lowland regions. May to July is the most active period for snakes,” Chiu said.
He said that the mountainous areas in Changhua County’s Fenyuan District (芬園) have recorded the most encounters, with a 2m Taiwanese stink snake recently caught inside a house.
“Snakes usually hide inside sewer drains, ceiling interval spaces, or among roof beams and molding boards at construction sites. They come out from hibernation to catch their prey when the weather warms up,” Chiu said.
“When snakes encounter humans, they will usually not attack, unless someone intrudes into their territory. So, when you see a snake in the wild, it’s best to leave quietly,” he added.
“If a snake is found inside the house, do not try to chase it away. Call the local fire department for assistance to prevent an attack,” Chiu said.
He said that increased snake reports could be because of improved wilderness conservation and therefore better snake habitats.
“However, another reason is that certain religious organizations have been known to buy captive snakes and set them free, believing this will benefit people in the afterlife,” Chiu said.
“We urge these organizations to stop this activity,” he added.
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