The recent death of Ifunanya Nwangene, the 26-year-old Abuja-based singer popularly known as Nanyah, following a snake bite has once again drawn attention to a persistent yet often misunderstood issue in many Nigerian communities why snakes enter residential spaces.
While such incidents are sometimes perceived as mysterious or purely accidental, environmental experts say several identifiable conditions around homes can attract snakes. Below is a closer look at the major factors.
URBAN EXPANSION AND HABITAT DISPLACEMENT
Rapid urbanisation and landscape transformation in tropical cities are contributing significantly to habitat loss. As wetlands, bushland, and farmlands are converted into residential estates and commercial centres, wildlife including snakes lose their natural environments.
With their habitats shrinking, snakes are forced to move closer to human settlements where shelter, rodents, and water sources are still available. This overlap between wildlife territories and human communities increases the risk of encounters.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), snakebite envenoming remains a serious and neglected global health concern, with thousands of cases recorded annually as human wildlife conflicts intensify.
BUSHY SURROUNDINGS AND OVERGROWN VEGETATION
Environmental specialists warn that overgrown bushes and thick vegetation around residential buildings can provide ideal hiding spots for snakes.
Tall grasses and dense shrubs offer shade and protection from predators and human disturbance. Damp vegetation also creates cool, humid conditions that snakes prefer.
In addition, such environments attract rodents, lizards, frogs, insects, and other small animals that form part of snakes’ diet. Poorly maintained vacant plots within neighbourhoods can therefore become breeding and hiding grounds, increasing the likelihood of snakes straying into nearby homes.
POOR WASTE MANAGEMENT
Improper waste disposal is another major contributing factor. Open refuse dumps, uncovered trash bins, and scattered food waste attract rats and mice primary prey for many snake species.
Environmental health experts note that where rodent populations thrive, snakes are likely to follow. In areas with weak waste management systems, homes may inadvertently become feeding grounds for snakes.
WATER SCARCITY AND SEASONAL WEATHER CHANGES
Seasonal patterns also influence snake movement. During Nigeria’s dry season, snakes often migrate in search of water and food, increasing their presence around homes.
A 2019 study cited by environmental researchers found that snakes are more active in warm atmospheric conditions and tend to hibernate during colder periods. When active, they roam widely in search of sustenance.
Open water storage containers, leaking pipes, clogged drains, and stagnant water pools around homes can provide accessible moisture, further attracting snakes.
Although snakes typically avoid human contact, encounters occur when they are startled, stepped on, or left with no escape route situations that often result in bites.
The tragic loss of Nanyah underscores the need for greater public awareness about environmental risk factors. Proper sanitation, vegetation control, and improved urban planning remain critical steps in reducing snake-human encounters and preventing avoidable tragedies
Credit:TheCable
