Snake encounters are more common in warmer months
The spotted bush snake is one of many harmless snakes found in and around Durban.
Durban and surrounding areas experience warm and humid conditions in spring which brings an increase in snake encounters. Warren Dick who is a professional snake catcher, based on the Bluff has had an increase in calls for snake removals over the past few days. The majority of the calls are for the harmless spotted bush snake.
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These snakes are often misidentified as green mambas due to their similarity in colour, however, green mambas don’t have black spots on the top of their bodies. A green mamba is also a thick bodied snake that is green in colour, top and bottom.
Characteristics of the spotted bush snake: A thin bodied snake, no thicker than your index finger and averaging a maximum length of one metre. Green on top with a pale yellow or pearl-white belly, with black and sometimes white speckles on the first half of the body, and orange around the pupil of the eye.
Favourite food: Tree frogs and geckos.
Habits: The spotted bush snake is without a doubt the most common snake in the Durban area thanks to the availability of geckos. Unfortunately, its fetish for geckos is what attracts it to homes. These snakes do not have fangs or venom, making them completely harmless to humans and pets alike. They are active during daylight hours, favouring to escape at the first sign of danger.
For snake identification or removals, contact Warren on 072 211 0353 or follow the conversation on Facebook, Warren’s Small World.
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