Snakes hard at work for the environment

Important to know which species in area are venomous

The Ndlambe area, ranging from Alexandria to the Fish River, has a fascinating array of snakes ranging from deadly wonders to mildly venomous and non-venomous beauties.

Ndlambe Municipality deputy director of community services Fanie Fouche told an audience of some 100 nature enthusiasts at an event organised by Friends of Waters Meeting in the traditional Pig and Whistle Pub in Bathurst on Monday evening all about the wondrous world of snakes.

Fouche, a highly qualified snake catcher, has been involved with snakes in the area for 27 years.

He explained that they play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of Ndlambe’s diverse ecosystems. Even the deadly boomslang has an upside because it usually does not release enough venom to cause death.

Snakes function as predators, controlling populations of rodents, insects, and other invertebrates, preventing them from becoming overly abundant and disrupting the food chain.

Additionally, snakes like the mole snake, help aerate the soil through their burrowing activities, promoting healthy plant growth.

The venomous beauties include the Cape cobra, easily identified by its hood, which holds the title of the most venomous snake in Southern Africa. The boomslang’s vibrant green scales belie its potent hemotoxic venom, while the puff adder’s robust body and triangular head house cytotoxic venom.

The rinkhals, another formidable beauty, possesses both neurotoxic and cytotoxic venom.

The mildly venomous marvels include the spotted harlequin snake and the herald snake. They primarily

use their venom to subdue small prey.

Thankfully, Ndlambe is also home to non-venomous wonders playing crucial ecological roles. The mole snake, with its specialised burrowing snout, preys on rodents and helps control their populations.

The brown water snake feeds on frogs and fish.

Additionally, the brown house snake and the western Natal green snake are common residents, helping keep insect populations in check.

While encountering a snake can be startling, it is crucial to remember that most avoid human interaction and only act defensively when threatened, Fouche explained. Some safety tips he provided, include:

● Maintain a safe distance: If you see a snake, admire it from afar and allow it to move on its way.

● Do not attempt to handle or corner a snake, as this can provoke a defensive reaction.

Educate yourself: Familiarise yourself with the common snake species in your area, learning to distinguish between venomous and non-venomous ones. This can help you remain calm and take appropriate action in case of an encounter.

Seek professional help: If you encounter a snake in your home or garden, contact a qualified snake removal service.

Ndlambe Municipality offers professional snake removal through their community protection services. You can contact them at 046-604-5500.

Appreciating snakes from a distance and seeking professional help if needed allows people to share the Ndlambe landscape safely and responsibly, was the main message Fouche brought across.

Rainfall and temperatures in Port Alfred for the week Wednesday February 21 to Tuesday February 27 2024. Rainfall in mm and temperature in Celsius (°C).

● Wednesday: 0 (16°C)

● Thursday: 0 (16°C)

● Friday: 10 (19°C)

● Saturday: 0 (18°C)

● Sunday: 1 (17°C)

● Monday: 2 (14°C)

● Tuesday: 0 (12°C)

● Total rainfall: 13mm

● Seven-day mean temperature 16°C (Median 16)

● Average for February 76.25mm ● ●

YTD 85mm MTD 16mm

— Rainfall and temperature measurements, recorded at 6am in Forest Downs, Port Alfred by Emil Jurgensen.

Picture: SUPPLIED SNAKES ALIVE: Fanie Fouche on the roof of a house in Kasouga early last year. The 1,1m juvenile boomslang was first seen poking its head out of the gutter and Fouche was called for assistance. He spent an hour on the roof waiting patiently as the snake kept on slithering between the gutter and under the sheets of corrugated iron. Eventually, he saw it slide out from under the roof and poise to lunge to a tree branch close by. As it prepared to lunge, Fouche snagged it and bagged it. ‘It is a highly venomous snake and not what you want close to your house or children,’ Fouche said. It was released in a remote part of wild thicket, not frequented by people.