You come home and you find an unexpected, slithering ‘friend’ in your house. You’re several kilometres from a snake catcher or someone who can remove it for you. What do you do?

A video shared by Eduanne Niemand on his Boland Snake Removals 24/7 and Pest Control Facebook page has the answer, in what he labels a ‘hack’.

In the video description, Niemand says he made the video at the request of his page’s followers, and that he believes sharing this vital information could assist in saving lives.

“When you unexpectedly come across a snake in an open space at home, use these tips in my video… Snakes don’t chase you (note that its body doesn’t leave the same spot) if you stand still; they react to your body’s movement (their vision is dichromatic).”

Niemand’s hack, which he explains in Afrikaans in the video, is that you should throw a towel or duvet over the snake. The snake will crawl under it, as it is dark and it will feel safe. He adds that the snake might occasionally check on you while you talk (it reacts to the vibrations in your voice), but will remain under the cover for a long time.

Niemand says this tip gives you time to call someone to remove the snake. In the video, he used a Cape cobra for demonstration purposes, but told Caxton Network News that the technique works on most snakes, from black mambas to puff adders, though not on boomslang, which seeks light.

In the video description, he notes that the common tip of slowly walking backwards until you’re a safe distance away will only result in the snake disappearing somewhere in your house, and you sleeping in the car.

Watch the video:

As is expected in South Africa, several comments included hilarious quips as they thanked Niemand for the video. One commented that if she found the snake in the bath, as in the illustration video, she would run the uninvited guest a nice bath, add bubble bath, and then run out the front door.

Snake season runs from early spring to late summer – roughly September to April, with peak activity in October to March as temperatures rise. Stay alert during this time and call on experts like Niemand if you spot a snake in your home.

Snake safety tips for peak season

Calling a professional is always preferable to handling snakes yourself. Hluhluwe-based Donald Schultz spoke to Zululand Observer and shared key do’s and don’ts:

• Keep local snake catcher numbers handy,
• avoid harassing or killing snakes,
• secure pets and
• provide clear locations or photos for responders.

Volunteer catchers may also appreciate fuel contributions, as capturing snakes can be time-consuming and costly.