Europe is getting too hot for some snakes. This region may be refuge

A new ecological modelling study suggests that climate change could reshape where Europe’s snakes can survive, with cold-adapted species facing the greatest risk. While much of Western Europe may become less suitable over time, the Balkan Peninsula could emerge as one of the most important refuges for snake diversity.The research looked at 31 European snake species and used climate and land-cover data to project how their habitats may change across two future periods, 2041–2060 and 2061–2080, under both moderate and high-emissions scenarios. The overall picture is worrying: for many snakes, especially those that rely on cooler conditions, rising temperatures and drought could force major range contractions.Why snakes are so exposedSnakes are ectotherms, which means they depend on the environment to regulate their body temperature.