Posted on 01/22/2016 6:06:29 PM PST by nickcarraway
Despite several recent cases of snakes slithering into people's homes, the reptiles are not taking up residence in the suburbs, says a reptile expert.
Snakes became more active and came out of hiding with the first major rains of the year, which was also when most snakebite cases occurred, herpetologist Johan Marais said on Thursday.
"Most of these cases happen from January to April, during the warm and wet season.
"Every year people see a lot of snakes this time of the year and think that it's strange. Then the next year they forget and the same thing happens again," said Marais, who has written several books on snakes and other reptiles.
Snakes were in fact moving away from populated neighbourhoods, he said. There were, however, some that adapted quite well to city living and remained there, lured by frogs and mice in gardens.
"It is very common to find snakes in gardens. There is nothing strange about it. Sometimes they choose gardens because there are hiding places, like building materials and rocks."
In dry conditions, snakes were quite rare. To avoid dehydration they moved underground.
The snakes most common in Gauteng included the aurora house snake, red-lipped or herald snake, and the rinkhals - mostly on the East Rand. North of Pretoria, spitting cobras and, in some cases, puffadders could be found.
Marais said one of the biggest causes of snake bites was that people did not have sufficient knowledge on handling them. He urged people to keep their distance and call an expert to remove any snake found on their property.
A list of areas across the country and people who are snake removal experts in these areas can be downloaded at the website of African Snake Bite Institute - click here for the list.
This week, in Petrusburg, Free State, a Jack Russell terrier died after it was bitten by a Cape cobra which it killed in a bid to protect its pregnant owner and her two-year-old daughter.
In Cape Town, a Bull Terrier killed a cobra that found its way into its owner's garage.
In December last year, former Springbok shooter Peter Bramley, 58, and a 17-year-old girl were bitten on farms in the Free State.
Sometimes snakes want to settle down, move to the suburbs, and hear the slither-slather of tiny scales? Why shouldn’t we let them...
Soith Ahfreeka.
There were a couple of families from up north \who moved here and they were liberals. All they did was com[plain about how wee should protect the environment, animals etc. Once they saw snakes, spiders like black widows, and an alligator they wanted them killed.
Thankfully both families moved back up north citing they hated the south and how backwards it was.
SOUTH AFRICA
The snakes most common in Gauteng included the aurora house snake, red-lipped or herald snake, and the rinkhals - mostly on the East Rand. North of Pretoria, spitting cobras and, in some cases, puffadders could be found.
Whole Lotta Nopes going on here.
I can just hear Ronnie Mervis reciting this article.
Well. They’d hate it here. We have a huge sinkhole in our
front acreage. Lots of rattlesnakes and copperheads. IF the
Jihadists come out here crawling around on their bellies;
they sillier than I thought. Husband has killed well over
30 or so vipers in the 30 yrs. we’ve lived out here. The
derned copperheads are sneaky; they sneak up on the back
porch to get to the dog’s food. Rattlesnakes will warn you;
but the derned copperheads will lay around lurking for you.
I think the snake dog got zapped a couple of weeks ago and
was sick for a couple of days from the venom. We live on the
river and have coyotes, snakes, bobcats, foxes and all sorts
of wild stuff. Cat brings in dead mice, live flying lizards
and all sorts of stuff. Keeps ya’ on ya’ toes! - Some nights
the coyotes howl at the full moon and it’s eerie as all
getout!
Racers and other snakes I don’t care about, but these two families hated them and wanted them dead.
Anyway they are back up north with no cottonmouths, pigmy’s, and I think eastern rattlesnakes, along with no alligators, but they are back with their homosexuals,cross dressers, and freaks so they must be happy.
Had a copper head go for me when I was about to walk on the back patio. Had a coral snake kill one of my Affleck ducks.
Don’t mind racers etc.
yea but isn’t it great to live and have that , instead of thousands of people around you?
We have seen fox, hogs, deer, snakes, alligators, only two of them , coyotes hearing them , and two bears in the back a couple of years ago. Owls, hawks, eagles, and even a couple of painted bunting.
Those derned copperheads are FAST! Husband headed one off
on the back porch and it doubled back on him! He whacked
it with a garden tool and it was mad as a wet hen. (Can’t
blame it; but they better stay off the back porch. I thought
it was a little bunny rabbit until I shined a flashlight on
it. It was doubled up and looked like bunny ears!)- We had
a black bear ranging across the river a while back. It’s
wild out here!
Damn, sounds like nighttime in one of those Progressive bit time urban ghettos!!!!!
Yeah. We’ve had wild hogs down in the river bottom; saw
lots of hog hoof tracks. No gators so far, but HUGE
snapping turtles. One day on my way home, there was a car
full of Mexican kids parked right in the middle of the road
A huge snapping turtle was trapped under their car and they
were afraid their mother was gonna run over it. I got out,
picked up a tree branch and herded it on over to the river.
The kids were just screaming. The turtle may not have
actually been headed in that direction; but I did the best
I could. - An owl nests in a tree beside our driveway. Also
have seen hawks swooping down after tiny critters. Our
cat has gotten too heavy for them now; but not at first.
Had to watch her at first she was so tiny. It’s an
adventure out here. Now, I couldn’t do town!
exactly. I grew up in a bad part of a city and now live here and love it. I see the stars at night, nature, peace and quiet. Why anyone wants to live in a rats race in a city is beyond me.
I’,m about to go out to the porch and have a drink before bed and all I see is stars, and maybe an animal while it is quiet.
.
That is just creepy.
White picket fencessssssss.
SUVsssssss.
Sssssssssswimming pools.
It’s the American Sssssssssserpent Dream.
;)
Why would Copperheads want your dog’s food?
Apparently it’s the South African sssssssssserpent dream, too. And you can’t blame them ... out there in the rural areas, snakes are just food.
Once when I was raking leaves in the fall I raked a copperhead, too.
I learned two things during that one moment: 1) never rake in flip-flops and 2) I can dance.
:-)
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