SNAKE CATCHER, Nick Evans recently received a call to help catch a Black Mamba in Escombe, something he described as “the perfect way to start a Monday.” A man spotted the snake by his window and phoned Evans to remove it on Monday, 7 November.
“I don’t often hear good news like this so early on a Monday. Worryingly, as soon as I jumped in my car, he called me back. The snake had gone down a hole in the bush. All that excitement and adrenaline had died. But he thought that it was still possible to catch it, so I decided to go anyway. I knew I wouldn’t catch anything if I didn’t try,” he explained.
The family watched anxiously as he looked for the snake. They found one or two skins recently, their cat had disappeared and there were also a few daisies around, and according to Evans, this was probably a very happy Mamba.
“The mamba was found in a messy site. It was over the wall and there was rubbish all over. Snake heaven, a snake-catchers hell. There were a million and one hiding places. Fortunately, owner of the house, Nelville Swales, saw exactly where it had gone, but the hole led to many hiding spots. I climbed over all the debris, nervously and cautiously, as the mamba could have been right underneath me. And as it turned out, it was,” he explained.
After searching a few places and almost giving up, he noticed a board which led him to the discovery of the snake. “I looked a little closer, it was bigger than I thought and there was a large space hiding underneath. I lifted the board up right at the back of the opening, lay a very large mamba. I had a bit of a dilemma. I had to lift up the large board and then get the snake out at the same time – a two man job.”
He propped the board up with a spade and was finally able to get a hold of the snake. “I didn’t hesitate, I got hold of the neck region using my tongs and brought the head towards me, gently, within reaching distance. That may sound a bit daft, and mind-boggling, to drag a mamba towards oneself. But I had to secure the head. While still holding up the board, using my leg and the spade, I grabbed hold of the head with my hand. I got hold of the whole body and moved my leg to let the board drop. I had it. I was so relieved,” he exclaimed.
The snake measured 2.5m which is the standard length of an adult mamba. “Thanks to the Neville and his family for being a big help. I’ll tag this beautiful specimen and release it. A very good start to my week,” Evans added.
For snake removals in the Greater Durban area, contact Nick Evans on 072 809 5806 or at nickevanskzn@gmail.com.
