Thank Heavens for Hermanus Snake Catchers

Divine natural surroundings bring the occasional snake into our suburbs, and even into our homes. Luckily, Hermanus has its own local heroes that can remove our scary friends back to safety - for them as well as for us.

Snakes are generally not aggressive, as long as they don't feel threatened. What should you do if you see a snake at home?

• Keep at least 3 - 5 m between you and the snake at all times. Do not corner them!

• Keep kids and pets at a distance. Dogs are often the aggressors that attack snakes and are bitten in self-defence (lock pets in a room if possible).

• Call either Jonathan Powers (082 352 6000), Corné Uys (076 075 8004), or Hugo Uys (062 482 5410).

If you're in the surrounds of Gansbaai, call Braam Otto (071 589 5589), and for the Stanford area, call Craig Niemand (082 310 7491).

[Add these numbers to your contact list for future reference]

If you love to travel, an app called ASI Snakes is your new best friend. This app has a list of snake catchers available throughout SA, to assist wherever you are.

• Keep an eye on the snake, if possible, till the snake handler arrives.

• Do not attempt to catch the snake yourself. You risk being bitten and losing a limb, or hurting the snake.

Please do not harm the snake - killing them is an offence in the Western Cape. Snakes are only a real danger when provoked, and our local catchers are pretty prompt to assist in their removal. The catchers ask a very reasonable fee to cover fuel costs for relocating these reptiles far back out in nature. These fees also help them to feed, hydrate and treat injured snakes. 

As Jonathan says, they are the "voice for reptiles and problem animals." They not only catch and release snakes but any problem animals. The snake catchers have worked with Cape Nature to help in cases of problematic or injured dassies, mongooses, porcupines, and baboons, and have even assisted in rescuing a seal and a leopard. These guys are clued up, and if they can't assist directly, they'll know who to contact. They can also advise on bee problems. 

As for staying safe from our most dangerous of uninvited guests, familiarise yourself with the 4 common deadly snakes that are found in the Overberg area. These are the Puff Adder, Cape Cobra, Boomslang (this little guy is the most docile of the four) and Rinkhals (not as commonly found here). It will help to assess when there is a real threat and if time is of the essence. 

Keep in mind though that it's easy to misidentify a species, which is why Jonathan recommends a book by Johan Marais, A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa. It has nifty cross-referencing to species that look similar and what to look out for to differentiate between the two. 

We have many mildly venomous snakes that don't pose a threat to humans, such as the common Skaapsteker. The Skaapsteker's venom is weak, intended to take down very small critters such as lizards, frogs, rodents and small birds. A bite from these will only cause discomfort and possible swelling in humans and pets. As is the case with bees, there is always a chance of an allergic reaction, so still, take caution.

There are a multitude of harmless snakes that you can leave to be on their merry way, including the Slug-Eater (Tabakrolletjie) and Olive House snake. Take a photo and Whatsapp it to Jonathan to confirm what the species is.

In the unlikely event of a snake bite:

• Before rushing to the hospital (time is definitely key), try to identify or, better yet, take a photo of the snake for the correct antivenom to be administered.

• Keep the person calm at all times (this slows the venom).

• Remove any restrictive jewellery or clothing pieces around the site of the wound (to make room for potential swelling). 

Please remember, most of our slithery friends are not a threat. For those that might be, we can rest assured we have both excellent medical care as well as our very own local heroes to keep us safe from our misunderstood neighbours. 

Photo Credit: Dan Photography