Just as any the tropical paradise of Dominican Republic has its portion of snakes and creepy crawlers. But the ones you should be most afraid of are most likely not the ones you first might think of. The real damage mis most likely to come from ants, sandflies, mosquitoes and if you are quite unlucky a spiderbite.
Snakes are “overrated”
No snakes in the Dominican Republic are poisonous to humans. There are two local species capable of attacking animals like chickens in addition to the invasive escaped pet pythons. The rest of the snakes on the island are quite small and will mostly stay away from people. Some small species can be seen on ground after eating small animals like geckos and the like. With some luck you might surprise a green tree snake in a mango tree but also these will work hard to stay away from people. These green snakes rarely grow thicker than your little finger, but they can reach up to a meter or more in length.
Worry about the spiders, but not the “scary” ones
Ants and spiders cause more issues than the more infamouis snakes and scorpions. Ants might swarm your feet in seconds in you step in the wrong place. The bites are harmless but painfull and will last a good bit before settling down.
The biting insect causing more issues are spiders. The large and hairy Terantula is harmess and has no poison bite. They are shy stay far away from people. If spotted it would normally be at nighttime as they cross a dark road. At daytime you have to find them at their one home insode a hollow log or between rocks. They are dosile but can run very fast if they have a reason.
Advice: Keep your bed slightly separated from the walls to make accidental encounters less likely.
The real hazard are smaller biting spiders. There are smaller spiders that do bite if you bump into them in bushes or tall grass. The spider bite itself will feel like a mosquito bite at first, but if you look carefully at the double mark from the two fangs give it away. The spiders poison will cause some local dissue damage and the real problem comes from the fairly agressive infection this might cause.
Symptoms can be swelling over days and a fairly agressive local infection. Treatment should be applied eary so the infection is stopped before you get the more extreme swelling that comes with these spider bites. Bites can be treated in the early stage with the cream Dermobiotic, its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory and can be bought at any farmacy in the Dominican Republic. Prevention is done by wearing long clothing if wandering about in tall grass, bushes etc. And if you store a bag, clothing or shoes in area that might be a good spider habitat, shake it a bit or turn it around as you lift it up.
Scorpions: real nasty but no killers
Scorpions are common in the Dominican Republic but most people dont see one in years. The common species hide below rocks or under the bark of old trees. They will try to run away and hide if you surprise them. They really really try to to sting you unless provoked over and over again, yet you never know for sure.
The species we have in the DR are not really harmfull but the bite is painfull with string pain first hours followed byt numbness for about 24 hours. Clean the bitten area to prevent further infection. Keeping the area cold with ice every hour can reduce pain. Paikillers with anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen can be taken for the pain.
If you live close to nature there are species that walk around on the ground hunting nighttime certain places.
Ants, fire ants
There are very aggressive species of ants in the Dominican Republic including the feared fire ant that will swarm at you if provoced. You might be in for dosens of nasty bites if you have some bad luck step on their nest, path or brush with the plants they might occupy or feed or. So be carefull in the relevant areas and use long legged pants if you are doing gardening or walking in the bushes.
Angry Centripies
A real nasty creature is the Giant Centipede, these critters have a nasty poison bite, these are fast moving and can grow up to 20 cm in size with a orange-brownish colour. If cornered these centripides are much more aggressive than scorpions. It wont kill you but for sure ruin at least one day in your life. Effects of the bite last about 24 hours with localised pain and swelling.
These are more commonly sighted by humans. These critters might hide in a garden in humid areas below rocks of leafs. A dirty garage or storage area might provide areas where the centipide might
They are rumored to climb the walls of dirty old buildings and according to “rumors” they drop down from the ceiling onto humans to eat their hair. This is naturally total nonsense but a witness to the fear these creates have caused.
Planning a trip, curious or just a friend?