Slithery signs of possible danger

MOSQUITOES are an irritation in the warmer months, but summer also brings a creature that is potentially far more dangerous. One which could be slithering into your garden at this moment.

Snakes come out of hibernation as the temperature rises and become active. While many are harmless and pose no threat to humans whatsoever, a single bite from others can lead to the amputation of a limb or even death.

But how to tell which are dangerous? What does one do in the event of a bite? And is there any effective way to repel snakes?

Andrew MacLeod, of Snake Relocation East London, says the most common snakes in the Eastern Cape – and the most harmless – are the Herald, Brown House snake, Western Natal Green snake and the Spotted Bush snake.

The most poisonous are the Boomslang, the Cape Cobra, Rinkhals, the Puff Adder and the Night Adder, the latter less venomous but it can kill a small animal, although not a healthy adult.

Sharing general information on snakes, MacLeod says although snakes are solitary creatures, they can be caught in pairs if mating – which occurs in spring. He stresses that snakes are not known to nest.

According to MacLeod, because South Africa doesn’t get very cold our snakes do not really hibernate but rather go into a state of brumation, meaning they are not really active but only roam when looking for food and water.

Spring and summer usually see a heightened amount of snake activity and bites tend to occur between January and April.

MacLeod warns people not to attempt to kill snakes as this was when most bites happened.

“And never free handle a snake that you cannot identify. Rather call someone to come and remove it and make sure to keep track of the snake so that when [the snake catcher] does arrive, then they know where to look,” he says.

“Once a snake has been removed from a territory it does not come back to the same place. They will find a new place of safety and will search for food and water around that area.”

Heightened snake activity is, however, not a negative thing, says Juan Marillier, co-owner of the Python Park outside East London.

“What we often forget is that snakes are an important part of the eco-system. They help us by keeping the rodent population under control and as we all know, rodents carry parasites and diseases. Snakes also feed on geckos and frogs, which many people don’t want in their homes or gardens.

“I often tell people snakes are not the problem, we are. We have infringed on their territory, destroyed it and turned it all into houses. I think they’ve done very well in keeping away from us given the circumstances.”

He also urges people not to be terrified of snakes. “When we are children we don’t fear snakes at all. Children are very quick to grab a snake if they come across it – which in many cases is perfectly OK.”

In some cases, however, it is definitely not and is potentially lifethreatening. Nevertheless, says Marillier, “the fear we have is taught. A snake’s first instinct is not to attack when we come across it, its first instinct is to run away from us actually.”

Johan Marais, of the African Snakebite Institute, says snakes are usually attracted to a particular area by food – such as mice, frogs, lizards or birds.

A clean property, free of clutter such as rocks, rubbish and building material is best for keeping snakes at bay, as this eliminates shelter or hiding places for them or their prey.

But, he says, “nothing keeps snakes away from your garden – this includes Jeyes fluid, diesel, snake repellent and various plants. These are all myths,” he says.

Marillier says snake education is important for undoing myths such as the misconception that if a snake is killed in a particular place, another will come in its place.

“That is not true. If a snake is living in your yard, it will go off and hunt and look for water, but chances are it will return to the same area it usually inhabits in your yard.

“If I take that snake and throw it across the street, it will probably only return to your yard if that’s the only place in the vicinity that has food. Snakes very rarely return to an area they’ve been removed from.” —