Warren Dick has been called to relocate brown house snakes (around a metre long) from people’s gardens.
These snakes play a vital role in the environment.
After battling with rat infestations for many years, Dick made a decision to release a few large brown house snakes into his garden.
He stays close to a busy shopping centre and has not seen a rat on his property in more than two years. These snakes are natures own pest controllers.
Identification: light to dark brown snake with a pearl white belly. They can reach up to one and a half metres in length. Although it is rare nowadays to find one that’s more than a metre long.
Two pale white stripes on either side of the face are the most distinguishing characteristics of this snake, these lines can stretch to the tail.
Juveniles and some adults can have a mottled pattern on the body. In recent times near white individuals with blue eyes have been bred for the pet trade.
Favourite food: mice, rats, lizards and small birds.
Habits: This harmless constrictor is probably the most common snake in South Africa. They are good to keep in the garden as they do a great job at keeping rodent numbers down.
In self-defence they do not hesitate to bite, although they do not have fangs or venom they have a good number of sharp teeth that can draw blood, but nothing serious. These snakes are harmless to humans and pets.
Contact Warren Dick to have some of your interesting insects, snakes or spiders identified, or send him a WhatsApp message to 072-211-0353. Join the conversation on Facebook, Warren’s Small World.
