The role of snakes in our environment

We all know that snakes are not everybody’s favourite animal, and they are not always appreciated. Well, hopefully that is starting to change, with some help from this column.

However, snakes are still feared by most, but that may hopefully change in time.

When I say they are not appreciated, I mean a lot of people do not understand or acknowledge a snake’s role in the environment. Some people believe they are here to harm us, others have not a clue as to why snakes even exist.

Snakes are on this planet for a reason, just like all native wildlife. They are not here to scare us, or keep our numbers in check. No, remember, snakes want nothing to do with people, as we are terrifying to them.

So, why are snakes here then?

Snakes form a key link in the food chain. They act as predators, and as prey. They help maintain a healthy ecosystem and environment.

Rodent exterminators!

Rodents, like snakes, have a role to play in the environment, but they can’t be allowed to breed out of control. However, the common house rat, which is what most of us have around our properties, is an invasive species, not native to Africa. They have become a pest all around the world. These rats have a negative impact on our environment, as they all feed on birds and insects, and if you are a farmer, they will eat your crops, or your garden veggie patch. They also carry diseases.

So, nature has given us a free service provider in rat control- snakes. There are many species of snakes which feed on rodents. Brown House Snakes, (harmless), Black Mambas and Mozambique Spitting Cobras (not harmless!) love rats, and will really help you in keeping the rats away. Although I can understand you not wanting a mamba or cobra in the garden, but if left in the bush, they may eat the rats before they come to you.

Frog feeders…

Frogs are a firm favourite meal for many snake species, in particular the Herald (harmless) and Night Adder (venomous).

We don’t want to exterminate frogs, they are already the fastest disappearing group of vertebrates (animals with a backbone) in the world. They are very important in the environment too, as they munch on mosquitoes and other insects, a benefit to us.

Frogs are also an important food source for a whole host of animals, such as birds and snakes.

But like anything, we can’t have too many of one animal, otherwise there will be an imbalance in nature. So snakes help keep that balance by feeding on the frogs in your garden, usually when you are fast asleep at night. So if the noise stops, you know what the cause may be.

What else do snakes eat?

Lizards make up a large part of a lot of snake’s diet, especially the common and harmless Spotted Bush Snake. Wherever there’s geckos, there will be a Bush Snake at some stage. That is why it is difficult to keep snakes away from one’s property, as we will always have geckos around. But all lizards have their numbers kept in check by snakes. Skinks, agama’s (blue-heads), chameleons, they are all snake food.

Some snakes, such as Mambas, Boomslang and Vine Snakes, will feed on nestling birds.

Mambas love young dassies, so that is why mambas frequent valley areas.

Then there is of course specialist feeders, such as the Egg-eater (which feeds only on bird eggs), Centipede-eater, and Slug-eater. So as you can see, many animals form part of a snake’s diet.

But who’s keeping snake numbers in check?

Firstly, at number one on that list, is us humans. We are responsible for the deaths of thousands and thousands of snakes each year, across the country. Whether someone chops a snake in half with a spade, or we accidentally drive over a snake, we take out a whole lot. Dogs and cats also kill a high number of snakes. This is not a natural cycle.

Snakes have natural predators of their own, so they don’t just act as predators in the environment, they are prey too.

A lot of different bird species, such as herons and raptors, feed on snakes, as do Mongoose, Genets, Monitor Lizards and even some snake species, which feed on other, smaller snakes!

Now, next time you see a snake in your garden or in a nature reserve, let it be (call a snake-catcher if you are against snakes being in the garden). Do not harm it. Try to remember and understand that it is on this planet for a reason, a good reason. We need snakes, because without healthy ecosystems and a healthy environment, the world would be dysfunctional.

Snakes are really amazing and simply awesome animals, that we need to conserve, just like all of this country’s incredible wildlife.