What’s the Reason Behind the Absence of Snakes in Ireland?

The story goes that St. Patrick, using the strength of his faith, drove all of Ireland’s snakes into the sea. While it makes for a captivating image, it’s not something that could have actually occurred.

Ireland has never had snakes, much like other isolated places such as Hawaii, Iceland, New Zealand, Greenland, or Antarctica. The reason? The Emerald Isle is, simply put, an island.

Long ago, Ireland was part of a larger landmass, but this era took place during an ice age that made the environment far too cold for reptiles. As the ice age came to an end about 10,000 years ago, the melting glaciers released even colder waters, making the gap between Ireland and its neighboring lands impossible to cross.

Other creatures, such as wild boars, lynx, and brown bears, were able to cross over, along with one lone reptile: the common lizard. Snakes, however, missed their opportunity.

Interestingly, Ireland’s lack of snakes has made owning a pet snake a symbol of status. There have been numerous reports of large pet snakes escaping or being set free, but none have managed to establish themselves in the wild—a small miracle in itself.