When I was a child, I used to scream at the sight of even the smallest snake slithering near our house. To me, they were scary, dangerous, and unwelcome. But as I grew older, I learned something that changed how I see them: snakes are actually quiet helpers, keeping our farms, forests, and even our homes in balance.
Today, on World Snake Day, I think back to that childhood fear — and how much more there is to these misunderstood creatures.
A neighbor you never notice
A farmer in Capiz once told me about a snake that lived in his rice field. He never tried to kill it, because every harvest season, he noticed fewer rats destroying his crops.
“That snake is like a partner,” he said. “It eats the rats so I don’t have to use poison.”
Stories like his are common among people who live close to nature. Snakes may not ask for thanks, but they work hard — silently — keeping pests like rats and insects under control. And that helps all of us, even in the cities.
More than just fangs
On social media, we often see snakes portrayed as villains: coiled up, hissing, ready to strike. But in reality, most snakes want nothing to do with humans. They only attack when they feel threatened.
Some snakes, like the Philippine cobra, can indeed be dangerous — but even they play a crucial role in our ecosystem. Without snakes, rodent populations would explode, crops would suffer, and diseases carried by mice and rats would spread faster.
We don’t have to love them. But we can respect them.
Fewer and fewer
Sadly, many snake species are disappearing. The forests they call home are being cut down. People kill them on sight, thinking they’re all deadly. And some are captured and sold as exotic pets.
Even here in the Philippines, it’s becoming rare to see once-common snakes like the gold-ringed cat snake or reticulated python in the wild.
A challenge for us all
This World Snake Day, maybe we can all try to change our mindset — even just a little.
Instead of fear, we can choose respect. Instead of reaching for a stick or a machete, we can simply step back and let the snake go on its way.
We can also teach children that snakes are not monsters, but part of the delicate web of life that keeps our world healthy.
Snakes don’t ask much from us — just space to live and a chance to keep doing what they’ve been doing for millions of years: silently taking care of the land we all share.
So the next time you see one, take a deep breath and remember: not all heroes walk on two legs. Some slither.
