Millions of Brits will be busy planning their summer holidays, with many hoping to jet off to Spain - but locals have warned holidaymakers to be on the lookout for some native creatures.
The warm summer months will see snake sightings become more common in the country as they slither out to look for a place to nest, with the country being home to five poisonous and around 10 non-poisonous species in total, the Daily Star reports.
The popular holiday destination of Majorca, the biggest of the Balearic Islands, is home to five species of snake according to Affordable Mallorca. These include the horseshoe whip snake, the ladder snake, and the viperine snake which is often found in or near water.
There are also two types of venomous snakes to beware of on the island - the false smooth snake and the Montpellier snake. However, both of these species have fangs in the rear of their mouths rather than the front, reducing the risk of a venomous bite, and in any case, their venom has low toxicity.
Biologist Vanessa Rubio told the Majorca Daily Bulletin: "This is their gestation time, so they are looking for the ideal nesting place.
"In May, June and July snakes are more active so people are more likely to see them, especially if it's hot," Vanessa, who works at the Consorci per a la Recuperació de la Fauna de les Illes Balears, or COFIB, added.
"Temperatures have not risen much yet, but the snakes are waking up and if we have a cold May and June, we will see more of them in summer."
But the biologist insisted that the snakes “are not a danger to people”, comparing a bite from a snake to being bitten by a cat.
Rubio added that the snakes will usually flee if they come across humans so tourists are unlikely to come home with a snake bite, although the reptiles may try to bite to defend themselves if cornered.
However, spotting a snake can still be an alarming experience, and in recent years Majorca has seen some species multiplying on the island.
Several snakes were spotted on beaches in the historic towns of Calvia and Andratx last year, and in 2020 almost 70 snakes were reported to have been caught as part of work to help preserve the island’s native wildlife.
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