‘Fake’ mamba call-out for Empangeni snake catcher
The spotted bush snake and olive grass snake are two local species often spotted at this time
This is the time of year when snake activity increases as the arrival of spring and warmer weather brings about mating season.
The spotted bush snake and olive grass snake are two local species often spotted at this time – the latter being similar in shape and coloration to the black mamba, which can often result in misidentification.
This happened recently when Empangeni’s renowned snake catcher, Fred Lubbe, was called to a house in Ngwelezane for a snake thought to be a black mamba.
‘This had me quite excited as a black mamba catch always makes the day just that bit more interesting!’ said Lubbe.
‘I arrived at the house and was told by the owner that the snake was last spotted in one incomplete section of the building.
‘I inspected it and found a lovely olive grass snake under some ceiling boards on the floor.’
This beautiful specimen measured in at around 1m, but would have been closer to 1.3m if the end of its tail had not been lost.
While the olive grass snake is mildly venomous, the black mamba has a fatal bite.
Rather than making the mistake, it’s best to call a local snake catcher to assist in its removal.
Snake catchers:
Fred Lubbe – 066 2433377 (Empangeni)
Peter Daniels – 076 0516420 (Richards Bay)
