Beagle Watch shares snake handling tips
NORTHCLIFF – Do not approach or handle snakes that are on your property.
A Beagle Watch response officer recently noticed a snake making its way onto the property of a Northcliff resident. The officer called it into the control room where they managed to enlist the help of a snake expert, who safely removed the snake from the property without any harm to the snake or residents.
Beagle Watch realised that this may become a trend and wanted to ensure that the public know what to do if they ever come a across a snake.
In a statement released by Beagle Watch, they explained that it is not uncommon to spot snakes this time of year and that they become more active and come out of hiding with the warmer weather and first rains of summer. Thanks to snake expert Brian Garret, Beagle Watch has offered the following tips when one encounters a snake.
- Keep your distance
Should you spot a snake in your garden or elsewhere, Garret’s advice is to keep a distance of at least four metres and call for an expert. “Do not try to handle the snake, but do try to get the colour and any distinct markings of the snake so that the handler knows what to expect.” He said of the main causes of snake bites is that people do not have sufficient knowledge of handling them.
- Do not try to kill them yourself
Garret is warning the public to not try to kill or capture the snake. “Do not try to kill or apprehend the snake, as by doing so, you are placing yourself in danger.” He added that snakes play an important role in the ecosystem by keeping the mice and rat population under control.
Important information
- Snakes are more likely to be more afraid of humans than the other way around.
- Not all snakes are dangerous or venomous. Although they can attack in the blink of an eye they would rather attempt to escape.
- Some of the most common venomous snakes encountered on the Highveld are the rinkhals, boomslang, puff adder, snouted cobra, Mozambique spitting cobra and night adder.
- Non-venomous snakes include the brown house snake, Aurora house snake, Herald snake, skaapsteker, Rhombic egg-eater and mole snake.
Should you see a snake on your property you can contact Beagle Watch to handle the matter.
Beagle Watch, 011 978 1972
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/northcliff-melville-times/268323/10-common-irrational-fears-phobias-people/
