As urbanisation increases, wild animals are driven out of their natural habitat and forced to find a home elsewhere.
Sometimes these animals mistakenly wonder into suburbs and make their way into homes. Most people do not know how to react and resort to either capturing the animal or killing it.
Snakes are often caught in this situation and their first line of defence is to flee. However, this is not always an option. Roodepoort-based snake handler Pam Krzyza explains, “Most snakes are harmless to man and are often brutally killed due to human ignorance. Snakes do not attack people.”
Krzyza adds that the best thing to do if you spot a snake in your home, garden or office, is to try take a photo of the snake to help identify it and call a snake handler to safely remove the snake. “It is also advisable to own at least a basic snake identification book.”
If you have been bitten by a snake and are able to identify it as a venomous snake, the most important thing to do first, is note the time of the bite. “Even the most venomous snake bites are treated symptomatically and don’t require anti-venom, except a mamba bite. By noting the time you were bitten and looking for signs like redness, inflammation, swelling and pain you will be able to assess how fast the venom is spreading. The doctor will then decide whether anti-venom is necessary or not.”
She adds, it is better to try and treat symptomatically, as many people are allergic to the components in anti-venom, and injecting them with anti-venom may result in anaphylaxis – a rapidly progressing, life-threatening allergic reaction.
A snake venom expert who can guide the doctor through the treatment process should be contacted if possible.
“There is no need to kill the snake and take it with to the hospital for identification. Anti-venom is polyvalent and is applicable for all the major and common venomous snakes. Snake bites – and especially lethal bites – are extremely rare.”
Snakes play a very important role in the eco-system and help keep pest and rodent populations under control.
Details: Snake venom expert Mike Perry 083 448 8854; Johan Marais www.reptileventures.com, Free Me Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre 011 807 6993.
