Ladysmith is fortunate to have its very own snake removal expert in the form of Fanie Cilliers… And guess what? Snake season is upon us again, with numerous snakes being removed by Fanie on a regular basis.

Fanie says that for the last month already, he has been busy attending to snake calls and fielding questions from the public, such as “what snakes are around?” and “when are the cobras coming again?” The honest truth, according to Fanie, is that this snake season is going to be hot with a lot of rain.

“The snakes have started with a bang!”

One day last week, Fanie received a call-out for a Spotted Bush Snake, then a Puff Adder and right after that, a juvenile Mozambique Spitting Cobra, and then to top it all off, a Red Lipped Herald. He thought this was a once-off for just one day, but the next few days were the same.

“This just shows that this year is going to be a very hectic snake season!” smiled Fanie.

For the past seven years, the season started with two or three weeks of Spotted Bush Snakes in the day and Red Lipped Heralds at night. By mid-August, the odd Rinkhals and Puff Adder was around; and by the end of August, Fanie says it gets into full swing with the cobras. “Nine out of 10 calls are for a cobra at this time of year, usually.”

Already, Fanie has removed more than 15 newly-hatched Mozambique Spitting Cobras, making him believe that this is going to be an extremely busy season.

Some advice from Fanie is to have your local snake removal expert’s number on speed dial and to keep everyone (including animals) away from snakes if they are encountered. Even if you are petrified, keep an eye on the snake from a safe distance. “Remember, the snake is not going to attack you… Or should I say, it won’t hunt you down, kill you and then eat you. It is simply doing you a favour, as it is taking care of your rodents and pests. This is the reason why the winter months see a huge increase in the rodent population, as snakes stay close to their burrows and do not forage like they do in summer. Do not hesitate to contact your local snake removal expert as soon as you spot a snake. No matter what time it is, they will always respond.”

Over the years, Fanie has always assisted the community where he could. However, he says the job is becoming more and more difficult for him, as responding to rural areas is very costly and he just can’t afford it anymore. This could lead to a ‘disaster’, as the community could decide to take matters into their own hands, with dire consequences such as a snake bite and even death.

Fanie says he has contacted the municipalities over the years, but has never received any help from them. He is now in desperate need of funding and sponsorship so that he can continue assisting the rural communities with their snake needs.

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