Spring marks the beginning of snake season. Improved weather and increasing temperatures create a spike in snake activity. The first rains, and an increase in frogs, baby birds, lizards and other prey activity and abundance, will result in more snake encounters after the long, cold winter.
Our snakes do not truly hibernate as it rarely gets cold enough, although those on the top of the Drakensberg and Cape Fold Mountains probably keep a low profile, deep down in burrows or in rock crevices for most of the winter. This inactive period in snakes is referred to as a state of torpor. On a hot winters’ day, snakes may leave their underground shelter to bask and the Rinkhals is particularly well known for doing this. Work by Wits University showed that by spreading a wide hood and lying flat, a Rinkhals could get its body temperature up to 30 degrees, even in midwinter.
Rinkhals spreading a hood to aid in basking.
Snake activity increases as the weather improves, but peaks once the first good summer rains pour down. Some snakes are flooded from their shelters while many species feed on frogs – an abundant food source in the rainy season.
Several snake species mate in spring and females emit pheromones to attract males. Several males may be attracted by a single female and this is the most common time of the year when snakes may be encountered in pairs. Snakes such as mambas, Mole Snakes and most adders engage in male combat when more than one male is attracted to a single female. Male combat is largely a wrestling match during which the male snakes lift the front part of their bodies off the ground and twist around one another – both trying to push the weaker male to the ground. Such combat can last more than half an hour and the males are not more aggressive towards humans while fighting – they are busy. Mole snakes often bite one another during male combat sometimes leaving gaping wounds with ribs exposed, but the wounds heal up quickly. It is not a fight until death, the loser moves off and the winner gets to mate with the female.
Snakes and Snakebite
An essential guide to identifying all dangerous snakes and common harmless snakes in southern Africa, as well as quick and important practical advice on first aid measures in the case of snakebite.
Price: R230.00
Snake encounters in suburban gardens and even inside houses are common in some areas, especially where houses are close to open veld or nature reserves. As snakes become more active, the chances of encountering a snake around the house rises. Cats may capture and tire out small snakes, but often bring their captures indoors while still alive. They are smart enough to avoid large snakes, while dogs usually go into attack mode the moment they see a snake and many dogs get bitten.
Mozambique Spitting Cobras often end up in houses
Should you encounter a snake in your house or garden, immediately retreat at least five paces and observe the snake from a safe distance while calling a snake remover. There are close on 600 snake removers on the free ASI App, ASI Snakes (http://bit.ly/snakebiteapp). Never attempt to catch or kill a snake unless you have been trained in the safe removal of venomous snakes.
Should you encounter a snake on a hike or anywhere outdoors, immediately retreat at least five paces and move away from the snake. Once you are five paces or more away from a snake you cannot get bitten. Never try to catch or kill snakes in the wild – that is unnecessary and dangerous.
When visiting game reserves or when camping, always wear closed shoes at night and use a torch. Take care when collecting firewood or when making a fire – snakes and scorpions often hide in piles of wood.
Combo H
A fantastic combo for snake removals, the Combo H includes:
JM150 Snake Tongs
Standard Snake Hook
750 mm Snake Tube
First Aid for Snakebite Booklet
Safety Glasses for Spitting Snakes
And A1 Snakes of Southern Africa Poster
Price: R1850.00
Ensure that doors of chalets (especially sliding doors) are closed, especially at night. The same for tents – always close the mosquito mesh section, especially during the day as snakes may enter your tent in your absence. The Mozambique Spitting Cobra often enters dwellings and tents and many people are bitten by this snake while asleep.
The Transvaal Thicktail (left) and Rough Thicktail (right) the two dangerous scorpions in southern Africa.
For advice on first aid treatment of snakebite, please have a look at the appropriate section on the ASI Snakes App.
Most of our snakebites are occur between January and April/May and the majority are inflicted by the Mozambique Spitting Cobra, the Puff Adder, the Rhombic Night Adder and Bibron’s Stiletto Snake. Their venom is predominantly cytotoxic – causing pain, swelling, blistering and, in serious cases, tissue damage. These bites are seldom fatal but the sooner a victim is hospitalised, the better. Fatal bites in South Africa, around 10 – 12 a year, largely result from Cape Cobra and Black Mamba bites. The venom of these snakes is largely neurotoxic, causing progressive weakness and affecting breathing. Victims need to be hospitalised urgently.
Be aware this spring as snake activity increases. Make use of the free ASI Snakes App to contact professional snake removers or learn more about the snakes in your area.
African Snakebite Institute Herpetological Association
With more and more people completing our snake awareness, first aid for snakebite and snake handling courses and more recently our online snake identification courses, we have received a number of requests from reptile enthusiasts to start an association that has regular meetings.
In Gauteng it is also a requirement for reptile keepers that keep indigenous reptiles to belong to a herpetological association and their annual keeping permits for indigenous snakes have to be signed off by such an association before the application is submitted to GDARD.
We have gone ahead and established the ASI Herpetological Association, and our first meeting will be announced in the near future.
This will be subject to COVID19 regulations and we are seeking a suitable venue somewhere between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
As many of our potential members are not in Gauteng, we have made provision for corresponding members.
Full details of membership options are listed on our website (https://bit.ly/3ibv2C9).
We are delighted to share our first newsletter – the ASI Herp Bulletin – with you.
In future, all members will receive a link to the latest newsletter whereas non-members will have access to the newsletter a month later on our website.
Please click on https://bit.ly/3ibv2C9 to access our first newsletter.
Check out our video on What to Expect at a Snake Handling Course:
Johan Marais is the author of various books on reptiles including the best-seller A Complete Guide to Snakes of Southern Africa. He is a popular public speaker and offers a variety of courses including Snake Awareness, Scorpion Awareness and Venomous Snake Handling. Johan is accredited by the International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS) and is a FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) and SASTM (South African Society of Travel Medicine)-approved service provider. His courses are also accredited by the HPCSA (Health Professions Council of South Africa). Johan is a qualified instructor for the Emergency Care & Safety Institute in Oxygen Administration and Wilderness First Aid and a qualified Basic Life Support instructor.
