Students in one Georgia school district got to add a few extra days to their summer break. That’s because their school had to be quickly shuttered, just days after students returned for the new year. And it wasn’t a case of the back-to-school blues that caused Hancock County schools to close on Aug. 5, 2026.
Instead, the school closed to protect students and staff after venomous snakes were found on one of the school’s campuses, according to 11 Alive News. The school district’s Interim Superintendent Latrasha Palmer spoke about the incident, saying that staff first grew concerned when they noticed several snakes outside the building.
However, upon closer inspection, they found that the snakes were doing more than slithering around the school; some had even made it inside. And while the initial snakes that were discovered appeared to be harmless black snakes, a brown snake was later found, setting off alarm bells for staff, according to WQAD News 8.
And it’s not just snakes making their way inside the building either. Palmer says that the district is experiencing an increase in all kinds of wildlife, which is why they needed a few extra days to get things under control so students could safely get back to school. Here’s what we know.
The School Building Is Located in a Rural Area Filled With Wildlife
Hearing about an influx of snakes outside of a school may raise some eyebrows for anyone living in more urban areas, but according to 11 Alive News, it’s not that uncommon for Hancock County School. That’s because Palmer says the school is surrounded by many older buildings and rural land. That, combined with the fact that developers have been clearing trees nearby, means it’s not unusual for wildlife to make an appearance.
However, once Palmer learned that one of the snakes that was spotted on campus was a brown snake, she decided to take action. According to Savannah Now, that snake was later confirmed to be venomous, although the exact species was not released.
Palmer Didn’t Want to Take Any Risks
The interim superintendent told WQAD News 8 that she didn’t want to waste any time, speaking by phone to a reporter.
“I made a judgment call along with the board to ensure that we get a licensed professional in to do an analysis of the entire school, all schools, the perimeters outside,” Palmer told the publication. The expert inspected three of the district’s buildings, and the school district’s facilities director cleared the exterior of the school of any signs of wildlife, including squirrels and raccoons, in addition to the snakes.
“With life, there’s no guarantee. However, once they do that check, we are going to develop a plan with them every month to do a check,” Palmer said. “This is not a one-time deal; we’re gonna get reports monthly to ensure that we don’t see anything that can impede the safety of our students.”
A Facebook Post About the School Closure Generated a Lot of Positive Reactions
The school district shared a post about the school closure on its Facebook page, announcing that it would close on Aug. 5, with plans to reopen on Aug. 10, 2026. Citing an “environmental safety issue,” the district thanked everyone for their patience while they worked to fix the issue.
People almost unanimously agreed that the district made the right call, with about a dozen people posting some form of “safety first” in response to the news.
The World Health Organization says that children tend to be the most vulnerable to snake bites, experiencing the symptoms of venom more quickly and more severely than their adult counterparts. Knowing that, it’s no wonder that Palmer decided to err on the side of caution when it came to the safety of the kids on campus.