SNAKES season got underway with a bang for The Bluff-based snake catcher Warren Dick when he caught a black mamba in Chatsworth on September 20.

Also read: Snake catcher shrugs off second black mamba bite with third snake capture

Dick’s hopes of a smooth capture and release were short-lived, as he arrived at the home to find the snake hidden among a rather cluttered storeroom. 

“Having climbed a gauntlet to get to the doors at the back of the storeroom I was now stuck with not much space to work in. It was impossible to move the doors and plywood very far, so I took one at a time and laid them down,” he said.

The great search

Dick was in a proper game of hide and seek with the snake as he initially could not find it. After scanning the room for some time, Dick spotted the snake by a box with a hole. 

“Now began a cat and mouse game trying to get it out of there and at the same time not startle it out of there unexpectedly. Fortunately black mambas want to avoid people at all cost, so it stayed there and tried finding another way out,” he said. 

The snake decided to hide itself among the clutter again before attempting to dash past them.

“By God’s grace I managed to grab it with my snake tongs behind the head with speed and accuracy,” he said. 

According to Dick this was one of the most challenging mamba rescues to date. 

Contact

To have your insects or snakes inspected or removed contact Dick on 072 211 0353. 

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