Snake sssurprises family in Westville
We knew the hot weather brought the snakes out but we are surprised to hear that the heavy rains do too...
There's never a dull moment in the life of a snake rescuer - or so it seems with KZN's Nick Evans.
What looked like a quiet day turned into a surprising one when Evans was called in to remove a Herald from a family's home in Westville.
I wasn't expecting any calls today, in this cool, rainy weather. But that rain last night, which I've read in some places, such as Westville, was around the 100mm mark, obviously got some moving during the night.
Human Rights Day didn't just bring buckets of pouring rain but also brought uninvited guests.
A family in Westville, which lives in a part of the area prone to mambas, didn't want to take a chance when they found a snake curled up under a small table in their home.
While sharing the story on his Facebook page, Evans noted something important.
"N.B- What's important to note, is that the family locked their dogs away from the snake as soon as they were made aware of the snake. This is such a crucial thing to do." (Facebook)
Evans was quick to identify the snake as a Red-lipped Herald and not a Mamba.
I could confirm the identity as a Herald, due to the white speckles on the body (this one had less than many do), dark, back part of the head, and a faint orange lip. Not all have this. Some have white 'lips', some have red/orange 'lips', hence the common name, Red-lipped Herald. They have a very mild venom, harmless to people and pets. Still, do not pick them, or any snake up. These snakes are extremely common, and are quick to put on a defensive display. They flatten their heads, strike and hiss repeatedly.
Check out more from East Coast Radio
Evans urged people not to pick up snakes if they find them in their homes.
He also shared that the rain will reveal 'ground-dwelling or fossorial' species such as Natal Black Snakes and Stiletto Snakes.
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
- Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
- Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
- Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet, channel 836.
- Switch to the audio bouquet on your Openview decoder and browse to channel 606
- Listen to us on Amazon Alexa.
Image Courtesy of Facebook