By Abbas Nazil
Heavy rains are driving deadly reptiles into farms across Nigeria, a _NatureNews_ investigation has revealed, exposing millions of smallholder farmers to snake bites, huge medical costs and limited access to anti-venom.
The findings come as climate-driven flooding destroys wildlife burrows and pushes snakes, lizards and other reptiles into cultivated fields during the peak farming season between May and October.
In Kogi State, the danger became personal for Mallam Musa, a farmer with more than 20 years’ experience at Achioze Farm Settlement in Okene Local Government Area.
While clearing tall grasses with a cutlass, Musa was bitten by an unidentified snake.
“I went to the farm as usual to clear weeds, not knowing that a dangerous reptile was hiding there. The snake attacked suddenly, and I had to spend heavily on treatment,” he told _NatureNews_.
Musa’s case reflects a wider occupational hazard. Interviews with farmers in 8 states show reptile encounters increase sharply during the rainy season.
FROM BURROWS TO FARMLANDS
Wildlife experts say flooding forces reptiles out of natural habitats and into farms, which offer food, cover and warmth.
“Farms become attractive because they provide food sources, vegetation cover and warmer resting areas after floods destroy natural habitats,” a wildlife expert said.
Scientific studies in ecology confirm that reptiles rely on vegetation for shelter and temperature regulation. Aggressive grass clearing by farmers often disturbs resting sites and triggers defensive bites.
The risk cuts across Nigeria’s agro-ecological zones.
In Kano and Kaduna, irrigation farmers report frequent snake sightings near canals. In Ogun and Oyo, cocoa and food crop farmers say thick plantation vegetation provides hiding places. In Cross River and Delta, farmers in wetlands report increased encounters with snakes, monitor lizards and crocodiles during heavy rains.
At Overe Farm Settlement in Kogi, maize farmer Abubakar Ibrahim said: “During the rainy season, grasses grow quickly and cover the ground. You may step close to a snake without knowing it is there.”
In Ohiana, vegetable farmer Fatima Ahmed warned that early morning work is risky. “Some reptiles hide under leaves, grasses and farm materials. Farmers must check their surroundings before working,” she said.
MANUAL TOOLS INCREASE RISK
The investigation found that reliance on hoes and cutlasses heightens exposure.
“Most small farmers use hoes and cutlasses because machines are expensive. Unfortunately, this brings us closer to places where dangerous reptiles hide,” said Yakubu Salihu of Agomé Farm Settlement.
Farmers encounter venomous species including cobras, vipers and mambas, as well as non-venomous snakes that bite when threatened.
HEALTHCARE AND ECONOMIC BURDEN
Beyond the bite, victims face treatment costs. Musa said he spent “a huge amount” on anti-venom and hospital care. Farmers across the states interviewed said rural clinics often lack anti-venom, forcing patients to travel or pay out-of-pocket.
There is currently no national database tracking farm-related snake bites, making it difficult to quantify the scale of the problem.
CALL FOR SAFER PRACTICES
Experts are urging a shift to safer weed management and better health infrastructure.
Recommended measures include mulching, cover cropping, crop rotation, and responsible herbicide use to reduce grass cover. Farmers should also wear boots, gloves and protective clothing, and avoid putting hands into holes or leaf piles.
“Communities should also improve access to healthcare facilities, anti-venom availability and education on first aid responses after reptile attacks,” the experts said.
As climate change continues to alter rainfall patterns, human-wildlife conflict on farms is expected to rise.
For Musa, the bite was a reminder that farming involves more than weather and pests.
“For millions of farmers, the field is no longer just a place of work. During the rains, it is also a danger zone,” he said.
