Prepare for encounters of the ssssslithering kind this summer!
Frogs and toads attract several types of snake species, many of them harmless.
Summer in KwaZulu-Natal means everybody is heading outdoors to enjoy the sunshine – resident snakes included. And while snake encounters are often alarming, snake rescuers Simon Keys and Siouxsie Gillett venture across Durban and surrounds, rescuing snakes and relocating them to safer environments.
The British-born couple live in eMdloti and many of their snake rescues have made it onto the Nat Geo Wild television show ‘Snakes in the City’.
While summer is always a time of increased snake activity, Simon explained that the recent rainfall will attract them in greater numbers as they tend to dine out on frogs and toads commonly found in wet weather.
These amphibians attract several types of snake species, many of them harmless like the herald snakes, or the mildly venomous like the night adders, which aren’t life threatening to humans but can give quite a bad bite, especially to smaller pets. The most dangerous snake that feeds on frogs and toads is the Mozambique spitting cobra, a brown-coloured snake that is very common in and around KZN. It will hood up and spit, or even spit lying down, and should not to be approached.
He says – as is the case with all snakes – they’d rather not approach humans, however, if someone approaches, a snake it will defend itself like any other animal.
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The best thing to do is, if you think there’s a snake in your garden, house or car is to phone a snake catcher. While people are scared of snakes, snakes are undeniably much more scared of people. Snakes will only bite if threatened or accidentally trod on, which doesn’t happen very often.
Snake season will continue through to May, but because KZN doesn’t get particularly cold, snakes are always around. They will come out to bask on the hotter days and then they become active and start hunting. Snakes, like black mambas, will climb up trees or onto people’s roofs where they can get to the sun to warm up quickly. They are quite common, but are seldom seen.
Simon warned that snakes cannot differentiate between a house, car or the outside world, they just take note of objects.
They’re there by accident, they’re not hunting people. If it’s really a hot day, they end up inside for shelter or looking for water around pools. Herald snakes can often be found near pools looking for frogs and toads.
Another common snake sighting in KZN is the bush snake – a long, thin green snake with black spots – often confused with a green mamba. Green mambas are not as common and very shy, so they are rarely seen. Usually when people find a green snake, it’s a harmless bush snake which feeds on geckos – it’s actually a good snake to have around if you have lots of geckos.
For your own safety and for that of the snake, contact the South Coast’s own snake rescuer Sarel van der Merwe at 082 6831604 for any snake removals.
Issued by: Olivia Jones Communications
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