A Monument Park homeowner got a shock when he walked into his garage and spotted a snake \u2014 only for it to flee straight into his car\u2019s engine bay. <\/p>\n
Fellow snake catchers were called in, and the reptile was identified as a black mamba, a species not typically found in Centurion unless it has \u201chitchhiked\u201d in from elsewhere.<\/p>\n
According to local snake catcher Maggle Webster, the initial call came through to Leon le Roux on Sunday, also a local snake catcher. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe arrived and I saw the snake in the engine. Snakes in engines are very tricky as you have to know where the head is at all times.\u201d <\/p>\n
She said they decided to push\u00a0the vehicle out of the garage.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son Vincent and husband started working, loosening stuff in the car to see if there is a way they can maybe reach the snake.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs they opened the door, Vincent saw it grab the tongs and managed to get it out of the vehicle. It did take some effort but Leon and Vincent managed to bin it.\u201d <\/p>\n
Webster said the homeowner said he never left the province. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe suspect it might have come in with another car and somehow found its way to this man\u2019s car. There are no mambas in Centurion found unless it is a hitchhiker.\u201d <\/p>\n
She said the snake was very chilled and just wanted to get away.<\/p>\n
The black mamba was estimated to be about 1.2 to 1.5 metres long.<\/p>\n
Here is what you should do if you encounter a snake:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Immediately retreat at least five paces and observe the snake from that safe distance.\u00a0Be\u00a0careful\u00a0, some\u00a0snakes can spit their venom with a range of\u00a0close\u00a0to 3 m.
\nNever attempt to catch or kill a snake unless you have been trained in the removal of snakes and have the right equipment.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0use braai tongs or cloves when you handle a snake.
\nClear the area\u00a0of\u00a0people and remove all pets, especially dogs.\u00a0\u00a0A\u00a0dog\u2019s\u00a0instinct is to protect, and\u00a0they do hunt and will try\u00a0to\u00a0kill the snake, and\u00a0in the process get bitten.
\nCall a snake remover to remove the snake, and\u00a0it is\u00a0essential\u00a0to watch the snake until help arrives. Once\u00a0sight of the snake is lost, it becomes\u00a0very difficult\u00a0for\u00a0the removers\u00a0to locate it.
\nThe most common mistakes people make include picking up a snake, trying to kill it, or failing to monitor it while waiting for help. The\u00a0Stiletto Snake, in particular, is often picked up because of its small size, but its bite can cause severe pain and tissue\u00a0damage.<\/p>\n
How to keep snakes out of your property:<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, there is no effective snake repellent.\u00a0This\u00a0includes substances\u00a0like\u00a0Jeyes Fluid, old oil, diesel,\u00a0moth balls, various plants and commercially available snake repellents.
\nKeep your garden clean and neat\u00a0and\u00a0remove building rubble or other suitable hiding places for snakes.Trim\u00a0tree branches away from the roof,\u00a0cutting\u00a0back shrubs from windows.
\nWater features, pet food in outside bowls and aviaries will attract snakes as they hunt for rodents and toads.
\nPhysical barriers\u00a0like\u00a0shade cloth or zinc sheeting wrapped or placed around a fence without gaps and\u00a0around\u00a01m high will prevent snakes from entering a property.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Paul Visser from the\u00a0Pretoria\u00a0ICE Community Network<\/a>\u00a0said\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0crucial to be aware of the potential risks.<\/p>\n \u201cEducate yourself and your children about snakes in our area.\u201d<\/p>\n Save these numbers:<\/p>\n Snake catcher Maggie Webster \u2013 082 299 2822<\/p>\n Meanwhile, positive strides are being made to ease South Africa\u2019s snake antivenom shortage after production restarted late last year.<\/p>\n Antivenom stocks have been critically low since at least mid-2024, with South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) confirming in October that it was unable to supply doses.<\/p>\n Also read: More snakes observed in and around Pretoria<\/a><\/p>\n Do you have more information about the story?<\/p>\n Please send us an email to\u00a0[email\u00a0protected]<\/a>\u00a0or phone us on 083 625 4114.<\/p>\n For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord\u2019s websites:\u00a0Rekord East<\/a><\/p>\n For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>, follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0TikTok<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0WhatsApp Channel .<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tAt Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t