Snake season alert: Mind your step along the greenbelts
It’s a great idea to learn what may be slithering about in your backyard, and what to do if you come into contact with a venomous reptile this season.
The hot season is upon us, and knowledge of what kinds of snakes slither across Johannesburg may make the difference between surviving a snake encounter, or not.
Information on knowing how to prevent falling victim to snake bites may present lifesaving solutions for anybody unfortunate enough to encounter a venomous snake while out on a walk anywhere in Sandton.
Entering Sandton SPCA senior inspector Ronald Ramalata’s office in Marlboro, the first thing people will see on his wall is a poster on the snakes that frequent Johannesburg suburbs.
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In an interview of opportunity on October 10, Ramalata spoke about how some snakes make their way into Johannesburg – reflecting on some of the more dangerous ones he has wrangled over his 32-year career as an SPCA inspector. Ramalata explained how some snakes manage to find themselves travelling to Johannesburg, free of charge, from Limpopo, Cape Town, Durban, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
“Remember, we’ve got a lot of road transportation, so, a snake can manage to stay in a car, hiding in the car’s engine because it’s warm,” Ramalata said. “They like that warmth. Remember, warmth is very good for reptiles. If you look, you’ll find that lizards – at certain times of the day – just relax on a rock in the sun.”
Ramalata urges people who see snakes on their property to call their local SPCA, and to cautiously try their best to identify it in the event that it bites someone. He also explained how snake bites can occur.
“The mamba, cobra, and rinkhals are some of the most dangerous South African snakes. I’ve caught a cobra, and rinkhals,” Ramalata reflected. “My take is that a snake won’t just come for a person. They respect people. The only time they attack is when they protect or defend themselves, like when you step on top of it. That’s the one time when snakes attack people, but they won’t go out of their way to attack.
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“If you don’t approach them, and they don’t feel threatened, then they just move away.
If you do get bit, Ramalata has some basic instructions. “Seek a doctor, and it’s important to be able to identify what kind of snake it was. If there’s a chance, take a photograph. That helps make it easier to identify if the snake is venomous or not. Not all snakes are venomous. It’s important to note the snake.”
Very dangerous snakes found in Johannesburg
• Rinkhals
• Snouted cobra
• Mozambique spitting cobra
• Puff adder
Dangerous snakes found in Johannesburg
• Bibron’s Stiletto snake
• Rhombic Night Adder
Mildly venomous snakes found in Johannesburg
• Herald (red-lipped snake)
• Short-snouted grass snake
• Spotted Skaapsteker
• Black-headed centipede-eater
Harmless snakes found in Johannesburg
• Bibron’s blind snake
• Brown house snake
• Aurora house snake
Snake found in Johannesburg which can inflict a nasty bite
Photographs by Johan Marais, published on Africa Snake Bite Institute’s website
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