Snakes are reptiles that live on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica, dressed in ice carapace, where cold-blooded creatures simply cannot survive. Ireland is an island, and there is not a single snake here, despite the fact that in the UK, on ​​an island located literally next door, they live. The distance between them is about 80 km, they have very similar flora and fauna, climatic conditions. In any case, an inquisitive person will wonder why, on one island, snakes have been and have been for thousands of years, and on the other they have never been in the history of mankind.

If you think about it, consider the geological past of the planet, it will not be difficult to answer the question. The answer can be found when considering the ice ages of the planet.

Ice Age and Reptile Settlement

Reptiles as cold-blooded creatures are attached to heat, to the possibility of basking at least a short summer, otherwise they cannot be mobile, they cannot exist. Ice ages occur periodically, the exact interval has not been clarified by scientists, however, geological surveys allow us to make some assumptions. Every few million years, the climate on the planet becomes colder, the polar ice caps move south, covering more significant areas, and then, with warming, recede.

The last time the ice shells grew about 110 thousand years ago, and about 10 thousand years ago they began to retreat, liberating, in particular, Britain.As the lands in northern Europe and the nearby islands became fertile again, the transfer of people and animals to these spaces began. While the water level was low due to the fact that not all the ice melted, and part of the water of the World Ocean was contained in glaciers, excellent conditions were created for the resettlement of living beings. They easily fell into territories that, with rising water levels, became islands along land bridges.

The first bridge was flooded between the future island of Great Britain and Ireland, during this period there were still many glaciers that impeded the normal life of snakes. Britain was connected with the mainland for about 2 thousand years, during which time the climate managed to become milder, snakes were able to move to the island from the mainland until the English Channel was formed. But they could not get to Ireland, it has already been separated by ocean waters.

The legend of snakes and St. Patrick

In addition to the scientific explanation, there is also a legend that tells how St. Patrick expelled a serpent from the island. The Christian legend tells that the saint gathered a serpent on Mount Crow, ordering them to throw themselves into the waters. But the oldest, cunning snake did not listen to him. Then Patrick argued with him that he could not fit in the chest because of its size. Proving the opposite, the serpent climbed into the chest, where the saint closed it, and then also threw it into the water.

Interesting fact: Ireland is not the only island without snakes. They are not on many other islands, even large ones - in Greenland, Hawaii, and New Zealand.They cannot cross large distances, except for sea snakes, which remain mainly in the water element.

Is it possible to bring snakes to where they are not?

The modern climate of Ireland creates all the conditions for the habitat of reptiles, and in particular, snakes. But they exist only within the framework of private collections, in zoos, terrariums. The fact is that it is extremely fraught to bring new species to where they were not originally available, to release them into the open environment of an established ecosystem. They can cause serious damage by changing the balance of already established food chains, destroying local species, destroying them for food, or depriving them of natural prey, taking up places suitable for life, breeding offspring.

A species of animal accidentally or intentionally introduced into established ecosystems is called invasive. Once in the ecosystem of the island, where birds are accustomed to nest freely, the snake is able to exterminate the chicks, attack them until they are completely destroyed. Under such conditions, the number of snakes will increase gross, due to the availability of food and the absence of natural enemies.

In addition, snakes can exterminate rodents and other small animals, which are usually at the base of the food chain, serving as food for local small predators. Such a situation will create a threat of extinction for endemic island species, and will affect people's lives. Therefore it is unacceptable.

Thus, snakes do not live in Ireland because they simply could not get there. This island was separated from the mainland during the early melting of glacial massifs that arose during global cooling earlier. When the island was connected to the mainland, it was still too cold for snakes.Later, they could not get there because of the water barrier. The modern climate of the island allows snakes to settle, live in these territories, but this is dangerous for already established ecosystems.