Exotic snake species makes Flanders its new home
A string of snake discoveries in Limburg has spooked local residents, but, according to animal experts, there’s nothing to be worried about
Snakes in a flat
And these surprise encounters aren’t isolated incidents. Since 2006, no fewer than 18 Taiwanese rat snakes have been discovered in the area around Kuringen and the vicinity of the Hasselt train station.
“This year, we have already caught four Taiwanese rat snakes,” says Michiel Aerts from the Nature Help Centre in Opglabbeek. Aerts is responsible for reptiles, which means he’s the one who has to go out and catch the snakes. They are non-venomous and completely harmless, he says.
“The Taiwanese rat snake preys on small animals, such as mice and frogs,” Aerts explains. “But it grows up to 2.5 metres long and is slim and fast. I can imagine that people are pretty scared when they bump into it.”
The Taiwanese rat snake is a distinctive looking animal, with colourful skin markings – an appearance that has made it a favourite among reptile enthusiasts.
According to Aerts, a well-known reptile store in Kuringen is probably behind the many snake discoveries of late. “We suspect that something went wrong with a delivery or something at one point,” he says, adding that the exotic species is not at all native to Belgium.
“This year we found two young ones. It is not clear whether the Taiwanese rat snake is breeding in the wild, but the discovery of these animals may point in that direction.”
Becoming Flemish
Because of its climate, Flanders is not an area that cold-blooded animals like snakes tend to enjoy. There are only three native snake species – the grass snake, smooth snake and viper. Because none of these are normally found in the Limburg area, the newcomer poses no threat to native species.
It is often extremely difficult to eradicate an invasive species
According to Aerts, the rat snakes are surviving as there have been few harsh winters in recent years. “It is a species that needs a lot of heat; that is why they are often found in the underground power lines of the Hasselt train station,” he explains. “But so far its habitat does not extend beyond Kuringen, the train station of Hasselt and its surroundings.”
The question of what to do with exotic animals and plant species is not an easy one, says Jorg Lambrechts of nature conservancy organisation Natuurpunt. He points out that animal species have been migrating throughout the centuries and that this process still occurs naturally. “But species migrating from the other side of the world to here is new,” he says. “Still, only a small minority creates problems – ecologically of course, but also economically. For example, it costs a lot of money to fight the Robinia, an alien tree species whose roots tend to destroy asphalt. Yet it is often extremely difficult to eradicate an invasive species, if not impossible."
Do invasive species ever survive long enough to be considered native? “If it does not harm the environment and is able to procreate for 10 years, then we call it a naturalised species,” says Lambrechts.
The rat snake will make a good candidate in a couple of years’ time, but, according to Lambrechts, it will never become a common species. But that isn’t necessary for a species to be considered naturalised. “In Flanders, for example, there are two populations of Siberian chipmunk – one in the Sonian forest and the other in the Kalmijn forest in De Panne. They can maintain their population, but their habitat doesn’t grow. It is possible that this scenario also will apply to the Taiwanese rat snake.”
Photo: A Taiwanese rat snake found next to the Kuringen train tracks in Limburg
©Michiel Aerts
