The Natal Green Snake is very similar in its habits to that of the Spotted Bush Snake, however they usually lack the black speckled markings of the Spotted Bush Snake.
This often gets these harmless snakes into a lot of trouble, as even seasoned snake experts sometimes misidentify them as being Green Mambas. The Natal Green Snake is a slender snake that reaches a maximum length of around one metre, with a yellowish green underbelly; very often they also have black markings between the bright green scales. Green Mambas are much longer and fatter snakes that are seldom encountered very far from the coastal forest (This is the green belt that runs right along the coast), whereas the Natal Green is quite common throughout the Durban area.
Like the Spotted Bush Snake, the Natal Green loves feeding on geckos and small frogs, this often sees them entering homes looking for their favourite food. However the Natal Green Snake is far less common than the Spotted Bush Snake and far less tolerant of urban sprawl. These snakes are most commonly found in homes that boarder nature reserves and other natural areas.
Like the Spotted Bush Snake, the Natal Green does not have fangs, nor venom, however they do have quite a few sharp little teeth that they use to catch and swallow their prey. This means that the Natal Green Snake is absolutely harmless.
Snakes were not created for us to fear, however they were created to have a vital part in the food chain, without them we would be over-run by genuine pests. No snake, venomous or not, ever deserves to die. If you see a snake in your garden please do not kill it or touch it unless you know exactly what it is, in most cases it is quite aright just to leave them in the garden where they belong. However if you would like to have a snake that you have seen identified and or removed (Small call out fee to cover petrol may apply) please WhatsApp pictures to me or call me on 072 211 0353.
