Skopje is in a panic over snakes. On „Vladimir Komarov" street in Aerodrom - a snake in front of building number 27, right next to a children's playground. Residents are sounding the alarm, demanding the municipality act, insisting the snake „looks venomous". Experts have a different answer.

„Snakes are not the problem - the neglected greenery is the problem", one of the experts argues. Skopje's urban areas, especially in recent years, are full of overgrown lawns, parks with no regular upkeep, and uncut patches of grass. That is a snake's natural habitat. When the weather warms, they come out. Not because they „attack" - but because they are looking for the sun.

According to Aerodrom residents, snakes are appearing more and more often in recent weeks - near Kvantaški market and in Lisiče. And every location has one thing in common - the greenery is neglected.

Experts advise residents - do not panic. Most snakes in Skopje are non-venomous. They run from people, they do not strike first. The danger only appears when people try to catch them or kill them - that is when the snake feels threatened and reacts. The safe approach - call the city's animal protection office, or - in an emergency - the rescue services.

Municipalities have an obligation - regular mowing, clearing of wild bushes, and control of neglected areas. This is not nature's „problem". It is a problem of municipal management. When snakes start showing up on the same street every spring - that means the street is not being maintained the way it should be.

For Skopje residents, the advice is clear. If you see a snake - do not approach, do not try to kill it. Call professionals. But at the same time - put pressure on the municipalities. When the greenery is clean, snakes do not come close. It is not mystical knowledge - it is logic. And the municipalities should act on it, not wait for citizens to fix a problem that sits in their job description.