“Yes, of course. Don’t allow the snake in the apartment?” said someone in a WhatsApp group of a residential society. Social media is often the breeding ground for controversies. In one such post, a member raised his concern about snakes. He advocated that the open gym should be paved with concrete because snakes can be found in the grass. ‘I have stopped using the gym due to the presence of snakes and demanded immediate action against them’, he added, claiming they should be killed or they would kill him. At first glance, his demand seems genuine. However, let us understand the underlying issue. Some time ago, some residents complained about an increase in the rat population. Why are there more rats? Is it because the waste segregation room had leftover food, which provides a feast for the rats rummaging through the garbage? Or is it because there is no snake to eat them? Both are correct. Again, why hasn’t the garbage been removed immediately? Perhaps the volume of waste has increased. Why has the garbage increased? It’s because the apartments are now fully occupied. In summary, this is an environmental issue. Snakes once inhabited this area before construction began, and they have not forgotten their original home. But has any snake harmed anyone? No single incident has been reported. Ok, how big are the snakes? Are they poisonous? No one cared about the details. For a layman, all snakes must be killed, regardless of size. Who will stare at the snake to determine whether it is venomous or non-venomous? India, being a tropical country, is known for its snake varieties. We have only ‘Big 4 snakes’, namely Cobra, Krait, Russell’s Viper, and Saw-scaled Viper, whose bites are fatal. According to some unconfirmed data, only 15 of India’s 236 snake species are venomous. The rest are non-venomous. We agree that snakes are scary, and we need to protect the residents from their possible attacks. However, people should not forget the fact that snakes (reptiles) are an important link in the food chain. Given their size, habitat, and adaptations, it is common to find them in neighbourhoods. Quite often we read in newspapers that elephants intrude into human settlements because of habitat loss. If that is the case for giant elephants, is it possible to stop little snakes from entering apartments? Residents must maintain hygiene and cleanliness in their apartments. Concretization is not a solution. Snakes enter through grooves. While we prefer modern villas in natural surroundings, we must remember that animals, which are part of nature, should not be excluded. Humans often forget that all living organisms coexist. When necessary, snake rescue teams may be called to capture and relocate snakes to nearby jungles. However, the best option is to allow the snakes to move away on their own. Animals do not seek revenge; they react out of self-defence. Yeah! Since anacondas are not in India, we are definitely safer!