Durban — Have you spotted a vine/twig snake in Durban this month? If so, that is because they are becoming active.
Durban snake rescuer Nick Evans said vine snakes were becoming active and it had been a few months since he received a call for a vine snake.
This week Evans was called to remove a vine snake in Westville.
“Keen for more calls for them, although I’m sure that will probably (happen) after yet another cold front approaches,” Evans said.
However, he did say calls for this species usually pick up in September because September/October is their mating season.
“I had started seeing a few pics of them being sighted around Durban, on social media, so wondered when my first call of the season would come through,” Evans said.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) I was called to remove this large adult specimen from a hedge in the Westville area.
“This one was quite cheeky, but it had every right to be unhappy, as I disturbed its relaxation time!”
Evans explained that while vine snakes were highly venomous, they were fortunately extremely docile, and rarely a threat. They are rarely a threat to dogs either, as dogs cannot get to them, nor usually see them, due to their arboreal habits and camouflage.
These snakes feed on lizards, baby birds, and other snakes (especially green snakes of the Philothamnus genus, eg spotted bush snake, natal green).
Meanwhile, in December last year, Evans had three vine snake call-outs in a week.
They were a yearling, in Westville North and two gravid (pregnant) females. One in Moseley, and one in Westville.
He said bites were rare and mostly on handlers (don’t pull their tails), and they rarely venture into homes. They usually stay in shrubs and trees, where they hunt lizards, nestling birds or other snakes.
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