Two-Meter Snake Found Coiled on Bed in Croatian Holiday Home

A surprising and unsettling discovery greeted a mother and daughter upon arriving at their holiday home in Kričke, near Novska, Croatia. They found a nearly two-meter-long non-venomous grass snake (bjelica) coiled up on their marital bed. The unexpected guest had apparently sought refuge from the summer heat in the cooler interior of the house.

Snake rescuers Darko Karamazan and Vlado Lađarević were called to the scene. Karamazan humorously addressed the snake, saying, "Come on, sweetheart, you can't sleep in someone else's bed." After locating the snake hidden beneath the bedding, they carefully captured the approximately two-kilogram reptile.

Karamazan speculated that the snake might have been attracted by the presence of rodents, as the owners had heard dormice in the house. He explained that during hot summers, snakes often look for cooler, safer places. After being safely removed, the grass snake was released back into the wild, far from the residence. Karamazan noted that such calls are not uncommon, with his association handling several interventions across Croatia during peak times.

He advised citizens to be vigilant about potential entry points into their homes and holiday houses, recommending keeping doors closed and managing vegetation near windows and roofs. Karamazan emphasized that snakes play a beneficial role in controlling pest populations, and the risk of contracting diseases like leptospirosis from mice is often greater than the danger posed by snakebites. He also reminded the public that most native snake species in Croatia, including the grass snake, are protected by law.

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