Add a rock to Jake the Snake. Rock snakes take over in Rhode Island

It started with a green head plopped next to the sidewalk and a sign next to the oddity.

“This is Jake the Snake, add a painted rock and see how long he can get,” the sign declared.

The rocks quickly started to come: rainbow rocks, floral rocks, be-kind rocks, avocado rocks. In days, there were more than 70 rocks, then 150, and then more than 300 as the snake took a serpentine course along the sidewalk at Strawberry Field Road in Warwick and around the corner. Now, there are nearly 1,000 painted rocks.

Jake the Snake has become a popular attraction in Warwick, with hundreds of rocks adding steadily to its length.
Jake the Snake has become a popular attraction in Warwick, with hundreds of rocks adding steadily to its length.

“This one is my favorite,” said Lucy Lacombe, pointing to a ladybug rock. “And this one. And this one. All of them. Especially this cute little strawberry.”

Jake grew in popularity as quickly as he grew in size. He made the rounds in local news, and social media loved him. He quickly became such a rock star that another snake hatched in Rocky Point State Park, Sheila H. Snake, and then on Prudence Island, Rocky the Snake made its debut and was up to 110 stones at last count. Other communities have talked about starting one of their own.

Sheila isn’t doing as well as Jake, with only a few stones left on the seawall and her sign and head gone when The Journal visited on July 18.

At Rocky Point State Park, Sheila H. Snake had been reduced to a few rocks on the seawall.
At Rocky Point State Park, Sheila H. Snake had been reduced to a few rocks on the seawall.

What’s causing the rock snakes to start?

Rock snakes are trending on TikTok and Facebook, encouraging communities to start their own to build a bit of community spirit. The basic idea is someone paints a head, comes up with a name and a sign and invites others in the community to add a painted rock of their own.

Family fun in RI: Looking for something to do in RI with the family for less than $100? Here are 5 ideas

In many ways, they are the natural evolution of Facebook groups such as Warwick Rocks, which encouraged people to paint and hide rocks for other people to find. That group, which has about 4,800 members, has been helping Jake to grow.

Who started Jake the Snake? 

Lucy Lacombe poses next to her rocks after adding her latest creations to Jake the Snake's tail.
Lucy Lacombe poses next to her rocks after adding her latest creations to Jake the Snake's tail.

The Strawberry Field Road snake was started by father and daughter Scott and Jenna Lee Denton, according to reporting by the Warwick Beacon. They live nearby and wanted to give children in the neighborhood something to do.

And for kids like Lucy, Jake has been a lot of fun. With a blue streak of paint still on her forehead, she asked her dad, Thoman Lacombe, if when they got home she could paint some more rocks to add to Jake.

It was an easy yes.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rock snakes are taking over RI, but there's no need to afraid