Snakes alive!

There is no reason to panic when you encounter a snake on your stand, says Neels van Heerden.

Lots of campers have plenty to say about what to do if you encounter a snake in the campsite (or how to keep snakes away). In my opinion, the advice can be divided into three groups: there’s the one that suggests several snake deterrents; the group that thinks they should be killed immediately; and then there are those who believe snakes play an important role in the ecosystem and should be left alone. The guys who believe you can keep snakes away – they are in the minority – claim you should sprinkle grains of chlorine, garlic or mothballs around your tent, put Jeyes Fluid or old oil or diesel in containers outside, or plant rows and rows of geraniums between stands. Scientists at Wits University, however, have found there is no evidence that snakes can be kept away (or chased away) by chemical concoctions or home remedies. (That’s because a snake’s sense of smell works differently to ours.)

Snakes in the campground are after food, with frogs, rodents, bird chicks and eggs, and other snakes being the main targets. So avoid stands near rubble, piles of wood and densely wooded spots.

THE THIRD GROUP is mercifully still in the majority. They believe that snakes play a very important role in controlling rodents, and we as campers need to realise that we are actually entering their habitat. Therefore, we must leave them alone.

They suggest we try to understand a snake’s habits. Then we’ll know how to act when we encounter one while camping (plus, we’ll know which are dangerous).

Adders and cobras are responsible for up to 90% of snake bites, while amateur birdwatchers in particular are most at risk of stepping on a puff adder. At night, you have a greater chance of encountering a night adder on the way to the toilet.

I always take a cane or walking stick when I walk in the veld and constantly tap on the ground. Snakes feel these vibrations and will hopefully make way. And then I use a head lamp to illuminate the path to the ablutions.

AND THEN THERE are the people who believe that one should rather use that cane to crush a snake’s skull. According to them, the only good snake is a dead snake.

I think it’s stupid to go looking for trouble with any snake. Of course, when a snake feels threatened, it will certainly be aggressive. Just look at how far – and accurately – a spitting cobra can spit.

It doesn’t have to be a case of choosing between the snake and you. A few years ago, campers in Scottburgh saw a professional snake handler remove a boomslang. The snake had made itself comfortable in a wild rubber tree at stand 63. The red-winged starlings first spotted it, and their chirping got the attention of the cleaners at the ablution block.

One of them quietly informed the campers at stand 63 about the visitor a few metres above their rally tent. The family quickly walked away and the camp manager called a friend who catches snakes.

The friend put a ladder against the tree and removed the snake without any fuss – the snake didn’t even get aggressive or try to get away. He then explained to bystanders that he’s an experienced snake handler who removes snakes that come close to people along the KwaZulu-Natal coast almost weekly.

With guys like him around, there’s no reason to panic.

You can also check out the African Snakebite Institute to learn more about snakes and their habits. africansnakebiteinstitute.com

It doesn’t have to be a case of choosing between the snake and you