LIMPOPO – With the recent rains, reptile activity has surged, bringing snakes out of hiding.

Chris Cooke, owner of Hoedspruit Reptile Centre, told the Herald about this noticeable increase in reptile activity over the past few weeks.

“In other years, snakes start appearing much earlier when the weather begins to warm, but numbers only increase when the rain arrives and free-standing water becomes available,” Cooke explained.

He said that the rain also marks the beginning of the breeding season for many species.

This new life in the bush leads to an abundance of prey for snakes, resulting in a spike in snake activity after the rains.

Many snake species in Hoedspruit live underground, preying on a variety of creatures, from ants and termite eggs to other burrowing reptiles.

“When the rain comes, water fills up airspace in the underground chambers and forces the snakes to the surface. Many of the snakes literally get flooded out of their burrows, and that is when people often encounter them at night,” Cooke said.

He said that the eyes of animals living underground are not well-suited for bright light, even when it is not raining. “In summer, the snakes come out at night to take advantage of the food that might be available on the surface,” Cooke concluded.