‘Fearless’ Fred contradicts snake misconceptions

‘FEARLESS’ Fred Lubbe, who has handled snakes for around 60 years, has an intimate understanding of the behaviour of these often misunderstood reptiles.

In an effort to tackle misconceptions, Fred has shared some interesting facts:

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· No snake will become aware of your presence, chase you and then attack you. Many people believe that one of South Africa’s most deadly snakes, the black mamba, will chase and attack people on sight, but this is not the case. Snakes will only use their venom when they feel threatened or for food, therefore, snakes will only bite if they see no other way to get past you, or if you attack them first.

· Many people believe that Jeyes Fluid, sulphur and snake repellent sold at some hardware shops repel snakes – this is not true. Many tests have been conducted which disprove this theory and Fred said the fact that snake repellent is sold at all is ‘ridiculous’. He advises that the only way to reduce the number of snakes on your property is to keep your home clutter-free and get rid of garden refuse. These cause rats, lizards and other animals on which snakes prey, to move in, thereby attracting snakes.

· Snakes do not attract other snakes. The only time snakes can be found together is when they mate – during the summer months. Snakes are precocial animals, meaning that once their young are born, they do not take care of them. Therefore, it is highly unlikely to find more than one snake at the same time. · Another misconception is that a black mamba is as fast as a galloping horse. This is not true as horses can sprint up to 88km/h, whereas black mambas can only move at speeds of up to 16km/h.

Fred warns that when residents come across a snake, the best thing to do is stay calm and call for assistance. ‘Running and panicking will only agitate both you and the snake more than necessary.

If you spot a snake in your residence, you should keep an eye on where it goes and call a snake catcher to come and help you.’

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