European cat snake

The European cat snake, also known as the Soosan snake, is a fascinating yet venomous colubrid species native to the Mediterranean and Caucasus regions. These snakes inhabit countries such as Italy, Greece, Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Malta, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Russia, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

Despite being venomous, the European cat snake poses minimal threat to humans. This is because it possesses rear fangs and seldom injects venom during defensive bites. While caution is always advisable around any wild snake, this particular species is not considered dangerous to people.

Feeding primarily on geckos and lizards, the European cat snake plays an essential role in the local ecosystem. Typically, you can find these snakes in open, scrubby areas such as beaches and woodlands, where they can hunt and thrive.