Spring (Sept/Oct in the Southern Hemisphere) is snake season and as the temperature rises, snakes leave their underground shelters in search of food. It is a slow process and they become more active as the temperature increases. Once the first summer rains fall, they become very active, and sightings are common.
Spring is also mating time for most snakes, causing females to emit pheromones to attract males. While snakes do not move in pairs, females may attract more than one male during the mating season, and seeing three or four snakes together can happen.
There is no such thing as a ‘snake nest’, and most snakes lay their eggs around mid-summer and move off, abandoning them. The eggs are generally laid underground in a burrow or under leaf litter, rocks, and logs. Baby snakes hatch (or are born) around mid to late summer and the young all move off independently in search of food and suitable habitat.
This is also the time of the year that snakes are found in suburban gardens and, while most common garden snakes are harmless and of no concern to humans, venomous snakes do also venture into gardens occasionally. Distinguishing between harmless and dangerous snakes is not always easy and should a snake be spotted in your garden or in a building, immediately retreat at least 5 m and remove cats and dogs from the area.
Never try to kill snakes, as this puts you far too close to them, and don’t try to catch a snake unless you have training in how to do so safely. Observe the snake from a safe distance and call a snake remover. The free African Snakebite Institute App, ASI Snakes has details of over 700 snake removers country-wide and will show those closest to you with a cell number.
Snakes commonly encountered in gardens may include the following:
Brown House Snake
The Brown House Snake (link on this and following snake names will provide further information about the species) is found throughout South Africa and is common in suburban gardens, hence its name. It is a harmless nocturnal snake that feeds largely on rodents and shelters under rocks, logs, and old building materials. It is easily identified by a light line that runs from the nose through the eye to the back of the head while the overall body colour is dark to medium brown.
Herald Snake
The Herald or Red-lipped Snake is a common inhabitant of suburban gardens, especially those with irrigation systems or water features as it feeds largely on toads, emerging at night. It is mildly venomous and poses no threat to humans or pets like cats and dogs. It averages around 30 – 60 cm in length and the head is darker than the rest of the body which is light to dark grey or olive green. Some individuals have bright red or yellow lips and when cornered, they put up quite an impressive display, coiling back, flattening their heads, and striking repeatedly.
Common- or Rhombic Egg Eater
The Common Egg-eater feeds exclusively on eggs and is attracted by bird nests and aviaries. It is completely harmless and hunts at night. Needless to say, it is an excellent climber. Most individuals are light grey to brown above with dark patches down the back and sides as well as some dark V markings on the head and neck. It may be confused with the Rhombic Night Adder. This snake averages 40 – 60 cm in length.
Common Slug-eater
The Common Slug-eater is a small snake that averages 25 – 35 cm in length. It favors damp localities where it feeds on slugs and snails. A Common slug-eater is a harmless little snake often captured by cats or found under garden pots. It is usually reddish-brown to grey with darker sides and sometimes with a spotted line down the center of the back.
Spotted Bush Snake
The Spotted Bush Snake feeds on small frogs and geckos and is an excellent climber, often seen hunting geckos in thatched roofs or between the walls and roofs of outbuildings. It is harmless and active during the day. It averages 50 – 70 cm in length and is often mistaken for the Boomslang or Green Mamba, but this snake is bright green with dark spots on the front half of the body.
Mole Snake
The Mole Snake averages around 60 cm – 1,2 m but may reach a length of 2 m in the Western Cape. It is a non-venomous constrictor that feeds on rodents and is often found in mole rat burrows. This diurnal snake varies in color from pitch black to dark grey, dark brown, brick red, or light brown. The juveniles are tan to grey with a series of spots that may fuse to form zig-zag patterns down the back.
Spotted Skaapsteker
The Spotted Skaapsteker is mildly venomous and averages 40 – 60 cm in length. It is a fast-moving snake and is usually quick to disappear. This snake is mildly venomous and poses no threat to humans. It has dark spots down the body with those found in the grasslands of South Africa having pale stripes down the body.
There are several grass and sand snakes – all active during the day, and quick-moving. Most of these snakes average 40 – 70 cm in length and have longitudinal stripes from head to tail. They are all mildly venomous and pose no threat to humans.
There also are some venomous snakes that are often found in suburban gardens
Rhombic Night Adder
The Rhombic Night Adder, like the Herald Snake, favors damp localities as it feeds largely on toads. Despite its common name, it is more active during the day and bites occur largely when people stand on them. It averages 40 – 60 cm in length but may reach 1 m. This snake can be identified by the singular dark V marking on the head and dark patches down the back on a brown background. The venom of this snake, though not considered potentially lethal, is cytotoxic and may cause severe swelling and discoloration around the bite site. Victims may have to be hospitalized for pain treatment and rehydration. Symptoms may last a week or two and tissue damage is rare. There is no antivenom for Night Adder venom.
Stiletto Snake
The Stiletto Snake, previously known as a Burrowing Adder, is a fossorial snake that comes to the surface on warm summer nights, especially after rain. It is a smallish snake, averaging 40 – 60 cm, usually a plain dark brown or blackish color with a similar-colored belly or a white belly. Individuals often end up in swimming pools. This little snake has large fangs that protrude out of the side of the mouth, even when closed, and many people get bitten when handling one. It cannot be handled safely, even if gripped behind the head. Like the Night Adder, its venom is cytotoxic causing severe pain, some swelling, and in severe cases tissue damage. Many victims lose a digit or two and there is no antivenom for the bite of this snake.
Rinkhals
The Rinkhals is a grassland species over most of its range and common on smallholdings in Gauteng, the Free State, North-West province, Mpumalanga, Eswatini, Lesotho, and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands but extends into the Eastern Cape and Western Cape. There is an isolated population in Eastern Zimbabwe. It is a shy and elusive snake that usually has a permanent hole and is quick to disappear down it when threatened. Dogs often corner a Rinkhals, and the snake will quickly form a hood, displaying two or three white bars on the neck. It spits its venom and will bite if grabbed by a dog.
Rinkhals venom is potently cytotoxic with some neurotoxic properties and bite victims need to be hospitalized. If a dog is bitten it needs to be taken to a vet urgently. The SAVP polyvalent antivenom is effective against the venom of this snake and human fatalities are virtually unheard of. Venom in the eyes of people or animals must be rinsed out with copious amounts of water as soon as possible.
Puff Adder
The Puff Adder is widespread over much of South Africa and often ends up in suburban gardens. It is a bulky, sluggish snake that relies on camouflage to escape detection. Puff Adders average 70 – 90 cm in length and rarely exceed 1,25 m in southern Africa. Its venom is potently cytotoxic, causing progressive pain, swelling, blisters, and severe tissue damage. Dogs are often bitten by this snake and need to be taken to a vet urgently. The SAVP polyvalent antivenom is effective against the venom of this snake and human fatalities are rare.
Mozambique Spitting Cobra
The Mozambique Spitting Cobra is one of our most problematic snakes. It occurs from southern KwaZulu-Natal northwards into Eswatini (Swaziland), Mozambique, Mpumalanga, northern Gauteng, Limpopo, Northwest and northward into the eastern parts of southern Africa and southern East Africa. It is largely active at night and is notorious for ending up in huts, houses, and game lodges and biting people while asleep. These bites are often to the face, arms, hands, and chest and appear to be a feeding response – they are confusing sleeping humans for a meal. Ensure that exit doors seal well or install mosquito-proof doors. People in rural areas are encouraged to sleep under mosquito nets.
The venom of this snake is potently cytotoxic, causing pain, swelling, and tissue damage. The SAVP polyvalent antivenom, if administered early and in large quantities, is effective against the venom of this snake and human fatalities are rare. This snake also spits its venom.
Cape Cobra
The Cape Cobra is one of our most dangerous snakes in Southern Africa and is often found in suburban gardens and even houses. It averages 1,2 – 1,6 m and is active during the day. Like all snakes, it is not aggressive and is quick to escape but when threatened it will form a hood and stand its ground. It varies in color from very dark brown to medium brown, light brown, yellow, or orange and may have speckles. Cape Cobra venom is potently neurotoxic and can quickly affect breathing. Victims need to be hospitalized urgently. The SAVP polyvalent antivenom is effective against the venom of this snake.
Black Mamba
The Black Mamba is our longest venomous snake, averaging 2,2 – 2,8 m in length but reaches a maximum length of 3,8 m. It is a shy and nervous snake and is very quick to escape if given the chance, but if cornered it gapes exposing the black inner lining of the mouth, may form a narrow hood, and will bite readily if it cannot get away. Black Mambas are not an aggressive snake and bites from them are rare. It is not a black snake but is usually light to dark grey or olive-brown. Like the Cape Cobra, its venom is potently neurotoxic and can quickly affect breathing. Victims need to be hospitalized urgently. The SAVP polyvalent antivenom is effective against the venom of this snake.
First Aid for Snakebite
The most important first aid for a human in the event of a snakebite is to get the person to the nearest hospital as quickly and as safely as possible. Bear in mind that it is a lack of oxygen that will kill a person in the short term and the two most dangerous snakes are the Cape Cobra and Black Mamba.
Do not:
- Apply an arterial tourniquet.
- Cut and try to suck the venom out.
- Apply ice or heat.
- Do not inject cortisone, antihistamine, or antivenom
Get the victim to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. This is by far the most important first aid measure. Keep the number of the closest hospital with a trauma unit, as well as the closest private ambulance service on your cell phone and check the numbers once saved.
Download the free ASI App, ASI Snakes on your cell phone (http://bit.ly/snakebiteapp). Identifying the snake may be helpful to the treating doctor; however, it is not essential, and you should not put yourself or others in further danger by trying to capture or kill a snake. If you are able, get a photograph of the snake from a safe distance.
Should you require more information about first aid for snakebites, like the use of pressure pads, pressure bandages, and respiratory support, please go to the first aid section of the free ASI App, ASI Snakes.
If your dog or cat is bitten by a snake, get it to a vet urgently. Forget about milk, charcoal, or Allergex tablets – if it is a serious bite your pet will need antivenom.
Venom in the eyes
Should anyone get spat in the eyes, rinse the eyes immediately with water (under a tap or gently with a hosepipe) and get the person to a doctor for further treatment. It is easily treated provided that one gets to a doctor, or in the case of your pet a vet.
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Text and all photos at this article © African Snakebite Institute. The professional background and contact information of the author of this article, Johan Marais, can be found here.
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