Showing snakes respect will benefit ecosystem

Francesca Villette

SNAKES have just come out of hibernation and might be seen raising their slinky heads in your neighbourhood, but there is no need to panic.

Shaun MacLeod, Snake Rescue co-ordinator volunteer and director of the Reptile Educational Awareness Consultants, said if you spot one, simply leave it alone and it will leave you alone.

“Snakes are all around us. If, for example, you encounter one while you are busy in the garden or hanging up the washing, move away from it and allow it time to escape.

“There is a mythical belief that if you do not kill the snake, it will come to bite you, but that is not true. Leave the snake alone and it will leave you alone. Most bites occur when people attempt to kill snakes,” MacLeod said.

Of 27 species of snake in the Cape, only three were potentially dangerous to humans if bitten.

They are the puff adder, Cape cobra and boomslang.

While the puff adder is mostly found in mountainous areas, MacLeod said the Cape cobra and the boomslang could be found anywhere.

“Snakes are very important to our natural environment as they control the vermin rodents who destroy our crops and who carry numerous diseases. Snakes and various other reptiles form part of the very important balance in our ecosystem. A simple equation: the more snakes we kill, the more rodents and pests there are,” MacLeod said.

Wanika Davids, spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, echoed MacLeod’s advice and said a snake would not attack unless provoked.

When a snake does attack, it’s more than likely that the snake found it necessary to defend itself.

Do not lash out at the snake violently, as many times the snake is harmless, Davids said.

While there is no real way to keep snakes off your property, keeping your grass short, trees well trimmed and cleaning up all your building rubble are some of the ways that might help, MacLeod said.

francesca.villette@inl.co.za

@FrancescaJaneV