Do not be afraid
Chris Mthombeni, a resident of Eastvale recently found a Red Lip snake hatchling while cleaning his pool.
An avid snake handler and collector, caught the critter and, after contacting the Addie to show off his unusual find, released the harmless snake in the President’s Dam area.
Speaking to the Addie, Chris commented that Spring is a common time for snakes to make their appearance in houses and gardens in residential areas.
Late August to October is their mating season, so hundreds of hatchling sakes will be slithering around to find food. Because of the wetlands, mining areas and countless velds in Springs, it is a town that sees many snakes hiding in cool places to escape the intense summer heat.
He advises that if you find a snake in your home or garden, it is important to try and identify if it is venomous or not.
Chris says species such as the Brown House snake, Aurora House snake, Olive House snake and the Red Lip snake are all harmless.
“These snakes are commonly found in our houses and gardens searching for food, which are mice and rats. Due to the fact that these snakes are harmless to man and are also less defensive, they are killed or caught and kept as pets. This is illegal because they are indigenous and you have to have a permit to keep indigenous snakes,” says Chris.
Species that are very dangerous are Puff Adders and Rinkhals. While Puff Adders are not common in the Springs area, Rinkhals are often spotted.
“Puff Adders react on instinct. They are slow moving and if they see danger, they stay in one place and give a hissing sound, while other snakes will move out of the way as the danger approaches,” says Chris.
A Rinkhals is a spitting snake. It is fast moving and can play dead to survive longer in the wild.
“If this snake is seen, people need to be cautious as this is one of the commonly found dangerous snakes in the area. It is easily identified by the two white stripes on the back of its head when it spreads its hood like a cobra does, it is dull black to grey in colour.”
What do you do if you come across a snake;
- Give a snake the right of way.
- You can scream but don’t jump or move (depending on the distance).
- Keep a distance of about 5m from the snake because some snakes can spit venom.
- Do not try to kill the snake, trying to kill the snake is what puts people in danger of being bitten.
- Call for help.
If bitten by a snake or spat at in the eyes or open wound:
- Do not panic.
- Don’t run or try to drive yourself.
- Do not take it for granted.
- Get medical attention as soon as possible.
If you do find a snake in your house or garden, and need more information about what you should do, contact Chris on 083 239 7774.
