Watch: Massive rinkhals visits house in Bloemfontein
A part-time snake catcher came face-to-face with a not-so-happy snake after a property owner saw it through a sliding door.
How would you react when you go about your day and find a snake in your house?
In a Facebook video taken by part-time snake catcher Stephan Fourie, a big rinkhals can be seen standing upright next to a sliding door.
Fourie, who has been removing snakes for just under 30 years, says he was called to a house in Westdene, Bloemfontein, by a property owner who said there was a snake inside a tenant’s cottage and it could be seen through the glass door.
He says the rinkhals stands upright as part of its defensive posture to appear larger, much like a cobra.
“It’s a spitting snake, so I had to put on my protective glasses and then caught the snake with a snake hook and tailing [technique].”
Fourie adds that he removes an average of 200 snakes a year in Bloemfontein, and about 20 of these are rinkhals.
“What was unique in this case was that we had never had this specific species in this particular neighbourhood. They are usually found more towards the east of town and on the outskirts,” he says.
Fourie states that he releases all snakes in suitable, well-chosen sites that are out of town, where he knows they will be safe and not in contact with humans or pets.
A rinkhals is medically significant because it is both cytotoxic and neurotoxic. It causes pain, swelling, blistering and tissue damage.
“If you encounter one, back off slowly to a safe distance of about 5m. Then you can continue to walk away, as a snake will never chase after you.”
He adds that this also depends on where it’s found.
“If found in a veld, then let it be. If found inside a house, keep an eye on it from a safe distance and call a professional snake remover.”
Fourie gave the following advice:
• If the snake spits in your eyes, rinse only with clean water, nothing else
• Transport the patient to the nearest hospital
• If a snake bite occurs, keep the patient calm, do not scratch, rub, cut, burn, add ice or use a tourniquet
• Phone the nearest hospital immediately and inform them that a patient is en route with a snake bite
• The hospital will treat the bite symptomatically and administer anti-venom if needed
