Durban snake rescuer debunks myths about snake repellents
Durban snake rescuer Nick Evans has reiterated that snake repellents are a waste of money as they do not work.
Evans said this after finding chopped onions and seeing and smelling Jeyes Fluid at a call for a snake that sounded like it could be a black mamba.
On Saturday, Evans and veterinarian Dr Carla Goede went into Chesterville to a home bordering the greenbelt which connects to Roosfontein Nature Reserve.
Evans said the snake was described as fairly large and dark in colour. To him, it matched the description of a mamba.
“Our first find was chopped onions. I’ve seen this at a few calls. It’s used to chase the snakes out of homes - but it doesn’t work. Save them for your dinner,” Evans said.
“What also doesn’t work, as we saw and smelt today (Saturday), is the most common snake ‘repellent’ - Jeyes Fluid/ship bosh/ship dip.
“Total waste of money, as a repellent for snakes.”
Evans said it did not take long for them to find the snake in the corrugated iron house.
“It was curled up behind an old cabinet - a Mozambique spitting cobra!” Evans said.
“I step back when there’s a mfezi (isiZulu name), and let Carla capture them. She loves them. Me, well, I admire their pepper spray defence system, it’s genius. They’re also beautiful. But man I hate those venom showers.
“Fortunately today, neither of us got spat at!”
Evans said the snake was not large, it was around 90cm.
“Certainly, not a snake you want in a small room though,” he said.
In addition, Evans thanked his sponsors for helping him get around KwaZulu-Natal - Dubcorp, Dunlop Tyres SA, Dunlop Retail and Technical Centre - Westville, Opposite lock 4WD & Vehicle Accessories Africa and Takla products.
Meanwhile, a python was captured in Canelands, Verulam, also on Saturday, at a business premises.
According to private security company Reaction Unit SA, they received a call for help after the snake was discovered under wooden pallets.
Rusa area manager Nkosinathi Ndaba was dispatched and on arrival captured the non-venomous snake which measured just over a metre. The snake was relocated to a more suitable environment.
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Daily News