Snaking about

Sizzling hot summers brings us all out to play, including some slithering creatures. Mike Perry of African Reptiles and Venom gives hikers some safety tips on what to look out for to prevent being bitten.

As it heats up and rains begin to fall, snakes are emerging from their hiding places to hunt and mate. Although Southern Africa has approximately 175 species of snakes, only a small percentage of them are venomous enough to cause harm. These are the black and green mamba, cobras and large adders like gaboon and puff adders.

Kings of camouflage

Hikers on a trail will be more likely encounter snakes that use camoufl age as their fi rst defense. While diffi cult to spot, a puff adder might lie on the trail, or a berg adder might bask in the sun on a rock where you want to place your hands to pull yourself up. Eighty fi ve percent (85%) of snakebites occur below the knee, with about 12% of bites on the hands.

Green mambas are not likely to be encountered on a hiking trail, but hikers might cross paths with black mambas and diff erent types of cobras. Cape cobras, puff and berg adders are most likely to be encountered in the Western Cape, whereas you are more likely to cross paths with a black mamba, snouted cobra or Mozambique spitting cobra in the Magaliesberg, Waterberg and Mpumalanga regions. A black mamba will quickly move off unless you are directly in its path on the way to its hole in the ground or other safety. This is easy to rectify as the snake will slide pass you if you move a few steps distance to the left or right side.

Tips when encountering a snake and how to avoid being snake and how to avoid being bitten

Snakes cannot see very well and often rely on movement to locate an aggressor or prey. on movement to locate an aggressor or prey. When coming face to face with any snake, immediately freeze, do a mental count to 30 and slowly back away. This will give the snake and slowly back away. This will give the snake suffi cient time to relax. Generally, if you are about 3-5 metres away, there is a very low risk about 3-5 metres away, there is a very low risk of being bitten. It’s advisable to use a walking stick or something similar when on a trail. This can be used to move a smaller or stockier species of snakes out of the way. Never touch any snakes with your hands unless you can positively identify the snake. Little black snakes that come out after the rains are not always harmless and they are not mole snakes. It can be a stiletto snake, which causes a lot of snakebites in SA. This bite will cause a lot of pain, swelling and will ruin your hiking trip. They can never be held safely by hand without you getting bitten as they have fangs that can protrude from the underside of the jaw that they use for gaffi ng. Although not a deadly bite, the recovery from a stiletto snake bite is long and painful. Most snakebites happen during a certain period in the day, and this is in the early hours of the evening. Fifty percent (50%) of snakebites take place within a fi ve hour window, from 5pm to 10pm, because their prey such as rats, mice and frogs are active during this time. A top tip is to walk with a torch at night and wear shoes when having to walk in the dark. The snake species that cause the most bites are puff adders, night adders, stiletto snakes and Mozambique spitting cobras. The latter are notorious for creeping into people’s beds and biting unsuspecting victims whilst they sleep. It is therefore advisable to shake out bedding prior to getting into bed, particularly when on a hiking trail, to ensure that you have no slithery sleeping companions. Mozambique spitting cobras cause a painful progressive swelling syndrome, which can be treated successfully with anti-venom if done on time.

Pic credit: Mike Perry

Pic credit: Mike Perry

Syndromes associated with different species

Progressive weakness syndrome is caused by mambas and non-spitting cobras, which can be treated with anti-venom. The fi rst aid to use is immobilisation, to stay calm and call someone. For a black mamba bite a tourniquet may be applied to save the life of a victim, especially if hiking solo. This tourniquet must never be removed prior to the victim receiving antivenom.

Painful progressive swelling is caused by most adders, stiletto snakes and spitting cobras. Never use a tourniquet or pressure bandages for bites from these snakes, as it may lead to amputation. The fi rst aid for these bites is to remove any constrictive clothing and move the limb for a while to ensure the venom is not concentrated in one area and rather diluted into the rest of the body. You will have suffi cient time to reach a hospital and it is therefore advisable for the victim to keep moving towards help.

If a snake spits venom into the eyes, rinse eyes out for at least 15 minutes with clean water immediately. It’s best not to use any other liquids if you have water available. A visit to a doctor afterwards to check out your eyes may be required. To help prevent snakebite on a hiking trail, do the following:

• Always wear sturdy boots or snakebite gaiters, and be careful when stepping over rocks and tree trunks. • Never place your hands where you cannot see, whether climbing over rocks or collecting fi rewood. • Be aware of your surroundings and watch carefully where you walk. • Always use a torch when walking at night, and never walk barefoot or with sandals. • When using an outdoor bathroom be extra careful as snakes like to hide in outdoor toilets and bathrooms.