- Over 20 snakes have been spotted inside homes and courtyards in recent weeks.
- Residents report daily encounters — even newborn hatchlings.
- City officials dispatched a snake catcher, but complaints persist.
- Experts attribute the issue to the breeding season and rising soil temperatures.
“We’re Living in a Horror Movie”
According to local media, residents of Tiberias, northern Israel, say their daily routine now includes a new kind of neighbor — one that slithers. Dozens of snakes have been found inside homes, stairwells, and courtyards, prompting fear and frustration among locals who say the city’s response has been too slow.
“My son got up at night to drink water and found a snake inside the dog’s cage,” said one resident. “I went into the kitchen, and there was another one. It’s become routine — there’s no day without a snake.”
Another parent added, “Yesterday, my child found a baby snake in the living room. It must have been born here. We’re scared to even walk into our own home.”
According to residents, more than 20 snakes have been caught this month alone, including newly hatched ones — a sign of an active breeding nest under residential buildings.
Fear Turns into Frustration
Locals say the municipality sent a licensed snake catcher, but the sightings have not stopped. “The snakes keep coming out of the ground,” one resident complained. “No one has located the source or done a thorough treatment. It’s a failure that endangers people’s lives.”
Others noted that municipal teams only handle public areas, not private buildings, leaving many households to fend for themselves. “They said they’d update us,” a tenant explained, “but in the meantime, we found another snake.”
And as one resident put it grimly:
“It’s like living in Jurassic Park. We have snakes, scorpions, and everything else. They’ll understand how dangerous it is only after something terrible happens.”
Why It’s Happening
Experts say the phenomenon has natural and seasonal causes. Rising summer heat, combined with construction near open fields and rocky hills, pushes snakes to cooler, shaded places — like basements and stairwells.
Tiberias, perched on the slopes above the Sea of Galilee, offers ideal habitat: loose soil, heat-retaining rocks, and urban waste that attracts small rodents — a perfect buffet for snakes.
The recent sightings of baby snakes indicate an active breeding cycle. Early summer marks the hatching period for many species, during which small juveniles disperse in search of food and shelter.
“They’re not invading,” clarified a wildlife expert. “They’re just living where we’ve built.”
What Tourists Should Know
While the headlines sound alarming, most snakes found in Tiberias are non-venomous and pose little danger to humans. The species typically seen in urban northern Israel include:
- Coin-marked snake (Hemorrhois nummifer): Common, fast-moving, non-venomous.
- Dice snake (Natrix tessellata): Often found near water; harmless to humans.
- Large whip snake (Dolichophis jugularis): Impressive but non-venomous; excellent at controlling rodents.
The Palestine viper (Vipera palaestinae) — Israel’s only medically significant venomous snake — is rarely found inside cities and tends to avoid human areas unless disturbed.
In short, tourists and residents should stay calm: the odds of encountering a dangerous snake in Tiberias are extremely low, and bites are exceedingly rare.
What to Do if You Find a Snake Indoors
- Do not attempt to handle or trap it.
- Keep a safe distance (at least 3–4 meters).
- Close doors or block escape routes to confine it to one room.
- Call local authorities or a certified snake catcher (in Israel: dial 106 for municipal assistance).
- Avoid using chemicals or sprays — they are ineffective and can make snakes more aggressive.
If bitten — an unlikely event — remain calm, immobilize the limb, and seek immediate medical attention.
Tiberias may be seeing more slithering visitors this season, but experts agree: the snakes are not the problem — habitat disruption is. As urban heat intensifies and natural ground disappears under concrete, nature has little choice but to knock on the nearest door.
