Goodbye party: Popular tourist city invaded by snakes slithering through the streets

Something strange is happening in Ibiza — and it’s not on the packed dance floors or sun-drenched beaches the island is famous for. Instead, it’s in the quiet, more rural neighborhoods where snakes are suddenly showing up on the streets.

Residents in areas like Jesús, a village near Santa Eulària des Riu, are reporting daily sightings of snakes slithering between parked cars and along sidewalks — well before the heat of summer has set in. So what’s behind this unexpected invasion?

Why are snakes leaving the countryside?

Experts believe the increasing presence of snakes in urban areas could be a sign that the animals are being pushed out of their natural habitats in search of food and shelter.

With urban zones offering more accessible prey — like rodents and small animals — and pockets of unmaintained greenery for cover, towns like Ibiza may unintentionally be becoming ideal environments for these reptiles. Some snakes might also be seeking refuge from habitat disruptions, like land development or shifting weather patterns.

However, what’s truly alarming residents is that these sightings aren’t happening during peak summer, when such movements might be expected. There have been no recent floods, no sudden heatwaves — just an unexplained uptick in slithery encounters.

Fear and fascination in the streets of Ibiza

While most snakes in the region are harmless, their growing presence in urban settings is sparking concern among locals who may not be familiar with which species pose a threat — and which don’t.

“It’s becoming normal to see them every day,” one resident told Diario de Ibiza. “We’re not used to this, and it’s worrying because we don’t know what kind of snakes they are.”

Environmental officials haven’t yet confirmed if the rise in sightings is part of a larger ecological shift, but they encourage people to remain calm and avoid disturbing the snakes. For now, residents are left to wonder why these creatures are appearing — and whether the trend will continue as summer approaches.

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