As temperatures rise across South Africa, snake season is officially underway, and sightings are increasing.
Image for illustrative purposes / Jon Richfield / Wikimedia Commons
IOL reported on one recent case that came from Paarl, where three puff adders were removed from a property by snake removal experts.
Eduaane Niemand of Boland Snake Removers 24/7 was called to the home of Lizl Engelbrecht when a female puff adder was spotted near a mountain on her property. When Niemand arrived, he discovered two more snakes. Engelbrecht had seen one snake moving toward a stack of wooden logs against a wall while she and her son were in the garden; the area, she said, had many rodents which attract snakes.
Niemand took great care in handling the venomous snakes. He lifted several large logs, under which he found the snakes: one’s tail was buried beneath the bottom log, the second wrapped around the first, which led him to believe one was male and one female. After these two were removed, Engelbrecht told him about a third puff adder behind the house. That snake evaded capture momentarily because of sand, trees, and flowers, but after about 10 minutes it was caught.
All three puff adders were safely relocated into a mountainous area away from human habitation. The female weighed approximately 5 kg, while the two males were each between 2 kg and 3 kg.
Puff adders usually mate in late winter and spring, with peak mating between October and December. During this period, females emit pheromones to attract males, who engage in “neck wrestling” to assert dominance. Litters generally contain 20 to 40 live young, but some can be much larger—with records of up to 80 or even 156. However, only about 10% of offspring reach age five, due to predation by cape cobras, eagles, owls, and others.
To reduce the risk of snakes entering homes, it helps to eliminate their food sources (like rodents and insects), reduce hiding spots by keeping yards clean and clearing debris, seal gaps in foundations, doors, and windows, and consider protective barriers in high-risk areas. Traditional repellents are not effective, it’s best to call a professional snake remover if you encounter a venomous snake.
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