Contrary to popular belief, there still are snakes slithering about in cold weather…Last few night’s trailcam treasures!!!…

There are no captions on today’s photos. They speak for themselves!

Many locals and visitors to Marloth Park perceive that they won’t encounter snakes in cold weather. But, this is not the case, as illustrated below from local Juan de Beer’s Facebook entry, which he posted yesterday. Juan is a young, highly skilled rescuer of reptiles and other animals found in the bush and nearby outlying areas.

It astounds us how successful and experienced he has been. We knew him when he was a teenager, and many of us here in Marloth Park feel safer knowing he is at our beck and call if we encounter a snake in the house or on the veranda.; Of course, if a snake is spotted in the garden and wandering off, there’s no need to call Juan.

Snakes and other reptiles are a part of Marloth Park and have as much a right to be here as we do, if not more. They were here long before humans inhabited this area. It is sad to see snakes driven over by vehicles on the roads and the countless wildlife killed on the roads here. More on that tomorrow. We were horrified to read the latest update on how many animals have been killed on Olifant Road, the main paved road in the park, in the past week.

So, here is Juan’s update on how many reptiles were captured and transferred to parkland and wildlife areas in the past two months, and June isn’t even over yet.

Rescue’s for this month from the Unit

1.Black mamba= 25

2.Puff Adder= 24

3.Mozambique Spitting cobra= 25

4.Rock Monitor= 17

5.Spotted bush snake= 14

6.Eastern Tiger snake= 1

7.Common wolf snake= 1

8.Olive grass snake= 2

9.Boomslang= 7

10.Southern Twig snake= 2

11.Southern African python= 1

12.common file snake= 1

13.Brown house snake= 4

14.Crocodile= 1

15.Chameleon= 1

16.Marbled tree snake= 1

17.Eastern bark snake= 1

18.Tree agama= 1

19.Short snouted grass snake= 1

Rescue’s in total ~ 130

Juan’s Reptile Rescue Unit

Safe removal and release of all Reptile’s

(Marloth Park, Kruger National Park, Komatipoort, Hectorspruit and surrounding area’s)

Juan’s Reptile Rescue Unit:

060 665 5000

Available 24/7

No charge for a call out

https://www.facebook.com/Juans.Reptile.Rescue/

To know that he rescued 25 black mambas, one of the most dangerous snakes in the world, leaves one a little more cautious when walking in the garden, on the dirt, in the bush, and even in the house. When snakes seek warmth, they may enter the house. We’ve heard stories of highly venomous snakes being rescued from homes on many occasions.

Of course, we must remain vigilant every day and evening, keeping doors closed, especially since the veranda is on ground level. We keep our bedroom door closed, day and night, mainly to keep mosquitoes and other insects from entering. But, this measure is also vital to keep snakes from entering a bedroom that may have snuck into the house when occupants weren’t watching.

Photo from one year ago today, June 11, 2021: