Catch of the Fortnight – Mamba in the roof

SOME people go to extraordinary lengths to get rid of a snake in the house.

Where did this happen? Inanda

What happened? A man, who lived in a tin shack, had been seeing a Black Mamba entering his roof every now and then over the past few months.

On 2 April, when the snake was seen entering the shack again, he and his neighbours decided enough was enough.

He couldn’t continue living like this, and understandably so.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Highway’s snake catcher rescues ‘monstrous’ Black Mamba

Few people would consider sleeping with a Black Mamba above them. They took his entire home apart. They took everything out of it, and then took down the structure.

They were determined to get rid of this snake.

Fortunately, one of the residents decided to try and call a snake-catcher, before they burnt everything.

How did I get it out of there?
After having the call referred to me by Craig Smith, from South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR), my friend Keith Botha and I drove out to the scene.

I was shocked at how the structure had been dismantled. All that was left were a few cardboard boxes stacked up on one another.

The mamba was in the box on the top, which was jam-packed with rolls of fencing wire. Clearly, it was terrified, as it was trying its best to bury down among the wires.

The mamba was ‘in the blue’. When they’re about to shed, snakes go this milky blue colouration.

Their eyes become clouded over. This is due to a waxy layer which forms between the old skin and the new skin, and this helps them shed the skin off more smoothly.

This mamba’s eyes were blue, and so its vision was badly affected, hence making them more nervous.

But this mamba was not like that. It didn’t resist much at all, barely putting on any defensive displays. I suspect though, that it was overheating in that box, it seemed exhausted.

I managed to pull the tail out first, and I waited for its head to appear among the wire. Eventually it did, and once I pinned its head down, I managed to get the rest of the body out safely. Job done.

What should you do if you have a situation like this at home?
Please do not break or burn down the house. You do not need to sell it either. You must not hesitate to contact a snake-catcher.

Call a snake-catcher, and keep an eye on the snake from a safe distance of five meters or more.

Or, if it’s in a small room such as this shack, close the door, and try to have someone stationed on each side of the room, just to watch that the snake does not exit.

ALSO READ: Heavy rains increase snake sightings

Should it try to leave the room, with people standing all around, it will see the people and most likely retreat back into the room.

Whatever the case may be, keep a safe distance from it and do not approach it.

Did the mamba live up to its fearsome reputation?
No, not at all. That fearsome reputation is mostly false. It regularly visited that shack, sharing the space with a man at times. Yet it did not bite or attack him.

They’re secretive animals. It didn’t even attack when it was surrounded by people, taking down the shack. Instead, it did its best to hide and avoid conflict. This proved how shy and nervous the Black Mamba is.

Leave them alone, and they’ll leave you alone.

However, one must remember that the bite of the Black Mamba is deadly, and so it should be treated with the greatest of respect.

For snake removals/emergency rescues you can contact Nick Evans on 072 809 5806, or for snake awareness/educational work, e-mail nickevanskzn@gmail.com or visit www.kznamphibianreptileconservation.com.

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