WHEN fetching your post, one of the last things you would expect to find nestled among your envelopes, newspapers and pamphlets, is a juvenile spotted bush snake.
Local snake catcher, Nick Evans recently rescued one of these cheeky snakes from a postbox at a complex near the Westwood Mall.
“This individual was more cheeky than the average bush snake – he mauled me! Although, his tiny little teeth didn’t break the skin,” said Evans.
He said the spotted bush snake was the most common in the greater Durban area and sometimes receives up to 20 calls each day, when the weather is right, to collect the snakes.
“Being green, the same colour as green mambas and adult, male boomslang, they cause a lot of fear. So most people who call me are terrified,” said Evans.
“Green mambas are plain green, much larger and are restricted to the coastline.”
He noted that a boomslang only turns green when they’re about a metre long and, by then, are far larger than a bush snake.
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“The spotted bush snake is absolutely harmless. It has no venom and, should you see one in the garden, you have nothing to worry about.”
“They’re also relatively easy to ‘shoo’ out the house with a broom, although you may want to confirm the ID with a snake-catcher before approaching,” said Evans.
A spotted bush snake’s characteristics include a yellow/white belly, black spots that run halfway down its body, is thin and green.
“Please don’t pour boiling water on this snake, beat it or chop it up. It’s really not necessary. They just come for a gecko or two, then leave. I often see them around my house and I enjoy seeing them. The birds aren’t big fans of them though,” he said.
Contact Nick Evans on 072 809 5806 or email nickevanskzn@gmail.com.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
