Upon hearing the word “snake,” people typically react with fear, a sense of danger, and discomfort. This appears to be one of the most deeply ingrained human instincts, which was essential for our ancestors’ survival. But is there a reason for people in Cyprus to feel this terror? Our experience tells us that there isn’t, and we’ll explain why by answering some basic questions.

1. Are snakes useful to us?

We may not realize it right away, especially when we’re confined to four walls and two screens, but all animals in nature are important and useful.

Human health and quality of life depend directly on the health of the natural environment and, by extension, the balances that govern it. Snakes contribute to human well-being in various ways:

• Friends of farmers: A significant part of their diet consists of rodents (mice and rats), which, when left unchecked and without natural predators, cause serious damage to crops, such as carob trees.
• Protection against serious diseases: By eating rodents, snakes protect us from serious diseases.Rodents can act as carriers of diseases such as leptospirosis and borreliosis (or Lyme disease) through ticks. The rodenticides used to control rodents are toxic and dangerous to us, and they lead to the death of numerous natural predators, such as snakes and birds of prey, that feed on the poisoned rodents. Thus, rather than decreasing, the rodent population actually increases over time due to the decline in their natural predators.
• Medical Applications: An increasing number of drugs are being developed from enzymes and toxins derived from snake venom. Such drugs include, among others, anticoagulants and medications used to treat heart attacks or strokes.
• Food chain: Beyond their primary role as predators, they themselves serve as prey for a multitude of other animals, primarily birds of prey, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of biodiversity in Cyprus.

• Are there dangerous or deadly snakes in Cyprus?

Animals attack—or rather, defend themselves—and become dangerous only when threatened.

In Cyprus, there are three venomous snake species. Of these, only the viper—also known as the short-tailed viper, the common viper, or the viper— (Macrovipera lebetinus) has venom toxic enough to harm us. The other two, the saita (Malpolon insignitus) and the wood viper (Telescopus fallax), although they have venom, their bites cannot cause any significant harm to humans and are therefore considered completely harmless.

As for the viper, yes, it is dangerous, but there is no reason to panic. The viper is much less dangerous than we think. First of all, it never attacks humans, but it may bite in self-defense if we get too close to it, step on it, or try to catch it. The viper’s venom is not neurotoxic—that is, it does not affect the nervous system—unlike the venom of certain species found on other continents (e.g., cobras, mambas). In that case, the situation would be much more serious. In the case of the viper, the venom is primarily cytotoxic and hemotoxic  —that is, it affects tissues and the blood—and spreads primarily through the lymphatic system rather than through the bloodstream. As a result, it takes time to take effect. This gives us time (a few hours) to get to the nearest hospital, where we’ll be treated.

If we’re bitten by a sand fly, yes, we’ll be scared; yes, it’ll hurt; and yes, it might take a few days to recover, but we won’t die. In Cyprus, dozens of people are bitten by vipers every year. However, deaths are extremely rare and are usually due to anaphylactic shock or a serious pre-existing medical condition. 

After a scorpion sting, transport to the hospital is essential and must take place immediately. Although we generally have enough time to get to the hospital no matter where we are on the island, the faster we get there, the less damage the venom will have time to cause to the tissues, and the faster we will recover. Special attention should be given to young children, the elderly, and people who belong to vulnerable groups due to various medical conditions. Due to their condition, these individuals are likely to be affected more quickly and severely by the poison, and they must be hospitalized promptly.

• Why don’t we exterminate them to save lives?

More lives will be at risk if we exterminate the snakes than if we leave them alone. Snakes play an important role in the balance of ecosystems, and disrupting this delicate balance puts us at risk.

Snakes are part of Cyprus’s natural environment. They have been on this island for much longer than humans—several million years, to be exact. Our island’s environment has developed, evolved, and maintained an ecological balance alongside them. The extermination of snakes and the disruption of this balance will only cause problems. A very easy-to-understand example of this disruption is the increase in the population of their prey, specifically rats. Snakes are particularly effective predators of large rats. Their absence from the natural environment would result in an increase in the rat population, especially in areas where other predators, such as buzzards, are absent. Rats pose a much greater problem for humans, both economically—through the destruction of crops—and in terms of public health, as they are carriers of diseases that can easily be transmitted to and affect humans.

• What is the expected behavior of a mouse?

Fines don’t wake up in the morning saying, “Oh, what shall I do today… I’ll go bite a human.” They go about their daily lives just like any animal struggling to survive. They’ll bask in the sun, cool off in the shade, hunt for food, and enjoy whatever nature has to offer them.

The fina is a slow-moving species of viper, unlike most other snakes on the island. This characteristic means it relies more on camouflage and stillness, hoping we won’t spot it and will pass it by, since snakes view humans as large predators. When camouflage isn’t enough and the “potential predator”—that is, us—continues to approach the snake, then its next line of defense is to flee, if given the space, or to hiss as a warning to ward off the predator.

The only situations in which the finch will try to bite us are if we step on it (and even then, not always), if we pick it up with our hands, if we try to lift it off the ground, or if we get too close to it. It’s important to emphasize that most bites occur when someone attempts to kill a viper or catch it for any reason.

Vipers do not lunge at us or chase us to bite us. On the contrary, they are afraid of us and do everything they can to avoid us in order to survive. The best and most effective way to stay safe when we’re out in the countryside is to always watch where we step and where we put our hands. Also, when we go hiking or are working in the countryside, it’s a good idea to wear hiking boots or work boots rather than open-toed shoes. 

• What should we do if a snake bites us?

The key isn’t just what to do, but also what NOT to do. There’s no need to panic—it’s not the end of the world. Don’t cut open the wound or suck out the venom—that only happens in the movies. Don’t ignore it, and don’t grab the steering wheel.

If we’re bitten by a snake that we know for sure isn’t venomous, then there’s no reason to worry. It’s a good idea to wash the wound with soap to prevent the possibility of bacterial infection, even though that risk is very small. Let’s not forget that snakes feed on rats and can transmit germs through their bite. As a precaution, we can go to the hospital to have the wound properly treated.

If we suspect it’s a viper bite, we must remain calm. Panic is our worst enemy. There is plenty of time to safely get to the nearest hospital, no matter where we are. Call 112 and report the incident so the hospital is aware and prepared to treat us. If no one can take us to the hospital, request an ambulance. Do not drive if you have been bitten. It is important to keep the bitten limb still to limit the spread of venom to surrounding tissues. Do not apply any kind of tourniquet to the bitten limb, as this can cause further damage. Do not try to suck out the venom, and do not take any medication without medical guidance.

• How can we ensure that snakes don’t enter our yard and home?

No animal has the slightest desire to enter a human’s home—except perhaps cockroaches. When snakes enter our yards, it’s usually by mistake or out of desperation, as they try to find food, shelter, or a cool place to rest during the summer.

There are ways we can deter snakes from our property, and there are countless methods that have absolutely no proven effectiveness. Most of the time, snakes are just passing through and will leave on their own.

Substances such as sulfur, naphthalene, or other commercially available chemical formulations are toxic and very dangerous to humans, with no proven effectiveness in repelling snakes. Many commercial repellents choose not to list their active ingredients, which makes them potentially even more dangerous to us. Natural formulations based on garlic or lavender are clearly preferable to chemicals, but their effectiveness still needs to be confirmed. The same is true of devices that emit vibrations as a means of repelling snakes.

The only thing that’s certain is that all of these make us feel safer. In practice, when a snake follows the scent of a rat and that scent leads it into our yard, it won’t stop its hunt just because there’s something there that bothers it. It will catch its prey and then leave.

What’s truly effective? Not giving a snake any reason to visit our property. Snakes are often attracted to homes because they offer a food source or suitable hiding places. The presence of snakes usually indicates the presence of rodents, which they feed on; therefore, our priority should be to maintain a space that does not attract rodents. So let’s keep our yard clean:

• We remove food scraps and sources of water (e.g., leaky garden hoses), which will attract mice.
• We cut back tall grass and remove piles of debris that could serve as hiding places for rodents—and snakes.
• Clear the areas under bushes and trees, where snakes can also hide.

Under no circumstances should we use poisons, sticky tape, or nets as a method of capture or killing. These methods are not at all selective in the animals they kill and usually result in a slow and painful death.

• Can the presence of a black snake in an area (e.g., in my field) help keep venomous snakes away?

“The enemies of my enemy are my friends”… isn’t that what they used to say? The black snake (also known as the “therkos” or “pervolaris”) is, therefore, an important ally of humans.

Farmers and villagers have always felt safe knowing there was a black snake in their orchard or yard. In fact, they often brought in and cared for black snakes themselves to protect them from vipers. They did this because black snakes are natural predators of vipers. They are larger in size—a large black snake can reach 2.5 to 3 meters—more robust and powerful, and they can kill and feed on vipers. Of course, this does not necessarily mean that where there are black snakes, there are no finas, just as it does not mean that where there are snakes that feed on rodents, there are no mice. Certainly, however, the presence of a large black snake in an area will make a fin think twice—or even three times—before approaching.

Every species is important and has its role

Every species that is part of an area’s biodiversity plays a unique and irreplaceable role. When we allow animals to function naturally—as predators, prey, and members of the complex ecosystems to which they belong—we help maintain ecological balance. A balance on which humans themselves depend, as an integral part of nature.

So let’s allow snakes to play their rightful role in the balance of the natural environment. If you see an injured snake or if a snake enters a residential area, contact the police or the fire department.

• Written by: Marilena Stamatio, George Pisiilis (Cyprus Herpetological Society) & Dr. Savvas Zotos (Terrestrial Ecosystem Management Laboratory – Open University of Cyprus)
• Edited by: “Pandoteira” Project Management Team