Ever been surprised by a snake in your home or garden?

As rapid urbanisation continues to expand outward from city centres much like rings of a tree, reptiles like snakes are seeing their habitats shrink more and more as the years go by. That being said, homeowners are likely to see more and more of these misunderstood creatures in their gardens.

Compared to most other parts of the country, Johannesburg is relatively safe with just a few dangerous snake species to be on the lookout for. In this article, we'll describe the most common venomous and non-venomous snakes you'll find in and around the country as well as provide insight into how to react should you ever get bitten.

Snakes around the garden

South Africa is home to a variety of snake species of various sizes and danger levels. However, being able to distinguish a Green House snake from a Boomslang or Mamba is vital. And while we recommend that you allow no one but an experienced snake wrangler to handle a snake in your garden, being able to tell the difference could be lifesaving knowledge.
 

• Brown House Snake - (Boaedon Capensis)
   

This non-venomous snake is one of the most common garden variety reptiles and poses no harm to humans. Adults usually reach a total length of 60-90 cm (KZN variants can reach up to 1.5 metres)

You can identify a Brown House snake by its light brown to reddish scales. There are two distinct cream coloured stripes on the head which can extend at least a third of the way down its body. The underside is usually yellowish-white.

• Red-lipped Herald- (Crotaphopeltis Hotamboeia)
   

This is a mildly venomous snake, usually found within woodlands and grass velds, poses little risk to humans if bitten. The most one will experience is a mild headache. Adults can usually reach a total length of 45 - 70 cm with some older snakes growing as long as 1 metre.

Red-lipped Heralds are nocturnal and can often be mistaken for Night Adders even though they bare little resemblance. The backside is an olive-grey with tiny white specs. You will often find that the head is darker than the body with distinct red, orange, or yellow lip markings.

• Mole Snake (Pseudaspis Cana)
   

Mole Snakes are non-venomous but one should be very careful when handling these as adults are known to give incredibly painful bites. They average between 1 and 1.4 metres with some in the South West cape reaching almost 2 metres.

These snakes are large and strong constrictors with small heads and pointy snouts. Adults may vary in colour from black to brown, to grey and red. They are quickly identified by their size, head shape, and the distinct yellow shade of their underbellies.

• Rinkhals - (Hemachatus haemachatus)

The notorious Rinkhals is perhaps one of South Africa's most venomous snakes. However, fatalities are extremely rare thanks to readily available stockpiles of anti-venom and the timid nature of the snake itself. In most cases, this snake will slither away rather than attack something larger than itself. However, like most creatures, it can become deadly if backed into a corner.

Commonly found under tight and snug spaces like rocks or compost, Rinkhals vary in colour. However, the back and underside are usually olive, dark black or brown with two to three distinctive white rings around its neck. While not technically considered a cobra, the Rinkhals does rear its head in the same way and bears a similar distinctive hood.

It is known to employ a defensive mechanism against predators whereby it feigns death and lies completely still. NEVER approach a motionless snake regardless of its species.

• Common Wolf Snake - (Lycophidion Capense)
   

The Common Wolf Snake is a non-venomous reptile that poses no risk to humans and usually reaches a length between 30 to 40 cm. Females tend to be longer than males and can reach a length of 45 - 60 cm.

Wolf snakes vary in colour from light to dark brown, purplish-brown to black with white-speckled ridges dotted along with the scales. These snakes are active during the night and are rarely known to bite humans.

• Common Night Adder - (Causus Rhombeatus)
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Night Adders are venomous snakes that can cause serious pain and discomfort if you happen to be bitten by one. While not deadly, It is advised that you seek medical attention, especially for children, as there is no known anti-venom.

Night adders can reach a length of 30 - 60 cm with KZN variants reaching almost 1 metre. They are distinguished by varying colours and shades of light-grey, olive-brown, and sometimes a pinkish-brown. They bear distinctive black diamond-shaped markings on their back and, as the name suggests, are nocturnal.

• Puff Adder - (Bitis Arietans)
   

The Puff Adder is a viper species that is extremely venomous and is perhaps the deadliest snake in SA. Not just because of its venom, but also due to its moody nature. Puff Adders often camouflage themselves within leaves to await their prey and are responsible for most snake bites suffered by people.

This slow-moving and bad-tempered snake will often be heard hissing before its spotted and can range in length anywhere between 90 cm to 1.4 metres. Some variants in Northern Africa can even reach up to 2 metres. Puff adders are remarkably distinct, thick-set snakes with olive-brown scales marked by distinctive black and white chevrons.

The reason why Puff Adders are so dangerous is due to their hunting habits. They lie in wait camouflaged in leaves or dirt until their prey comes into contact with them. Unlike most snakes that run away from vibrations in the ground from footsteps, Puff Adders wait for them to come closer until they strike.

• Mambas - (Dendroaspis)
   

Perhaps the most famous snakes in SA, black and green mambas are both highly venomous and ferociously quick. Despite coming from the same family, green mambas are generally much smaller than their cousins coming in at an average of 1.8 metres as opposed to the gargantuan 5.4-meter long black mamba.

Green mambas also enjoy tropical climates and are often found in trees where they spend most of their lives hunting and catching birds. Black Mambas, on the other hand, enjoy arid climates such as the highveld and can be found both on the ground and in the trees.

Despite their infamy, mambas are reclusive snakes that will do their best to avoid coming into contact with larger predators or people. Not at all territorial, mambas will often share shelter or resting spots with other mambas or even other snake species entirely.

While black mambas are rarely ever seen outside of sunbathing in their elongated form on rocks during the day, green mambas may often be confused for other less dangerous snake species such as the Green House Snake. The most notable difference between the two can be spotted in the shapes of their heads. Green House Snakes tend to have small pointed heads with large eyes and short snouts, whereas mambas have an elongated, coffin-shaped head with longer snouts.

Types of Venom

Snakes don't all have the same venom. In reality, different types of venom affect the body in a myriad of ways. There are three distinctive types of venom which attack different parts of the body.
 

• Cytotoxic Venom - Affects the muscles on a molecular level, attacking the soft tissue, killing off the cells, and causing necrosis.
• Haemotoxic Venom - Affects the blood, damages the circulatory system, and muscle tissue, causing swelling, haemorrhaging, and necrosis.
• Neurotoxic Venom - Affects the central nervous system, stops muscles from working and leads to suffocation.

First reactions to snake bites

Should you or anyone in your family ever be bitten by a venomous snake then you need to get to the hospital as soon as possible. If you are experienced in first aid then apply a tourniquet as quickly as possible to slow down the venom in the bloodstream.

Only about 15% of snakebite victims require anti-venom and general treatment is effective in most cases. Identifying the snake that bit you can help doctors determine how to treat the venom as well. Pets to go directly to the vet.

Venom in the eyes 

Should you come into contact with a spitting cobra or similar species then immediately rinse your eyes under running water for 15 to 20 minutes before immediately visiting the doctor. They will treat the affected area with cream and antibiotics and your eyes should revert to normal in two to three days. For pets, skip step one and go directly to the vet.

Pets and snakebites

While people seem to take human bites seriously, there seems to be this myth that goes around that Allergex tablets, milk, or charcoal will be enough to cure your pets of venom. This is absolute nonsense and only causes unnecessary suffering. IMMEDIATELY take your pets to the nearest vet in the event of a snakebite.

Snake Handlers in Johannesburg

Regardless of the species, should you spot a snake in your garden, DO NOT try to harm or kill the snake. Simply lock your pets away, keep a safe distance of 5 to 10 metres, and call a snake handler to safely relocate the probably frightened creature. We have provided a list below of experts in the field that you need to contact and should always be your first call to action.
 

• S.A.V.E Snake Removals - Snake and Venom Education
• SnakeCity
• African Snakebite Institute
• Highveld Venom
• Pest Control Specialists

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