Snakes in WC Spring Time

[porqui]

If bitten.

 

Try to id the snake.

 

Remain as calm as possible.

 

Get to a hospital.

[rorydewet]

I saw this guy on the R304 outside  Stellenbosch on Saturday. I'm guessing it's a mole snake or a house snake of some sort.

 

He was keen to cross the road (which is when I went past him). He then turned around and went back into the grass...

might be a mole snake

 

very unlikely a house snake

 

housies range from 0.4m  fisks house snake to 1.5m brown house snake

 

your snake is long but definetly not brown.

 

also brown housies also have yellow spots

 

so highly unlikely a housie

 

next time stop get close and take good pictures please

[Ascension]

Why say that.

 

You will also be surprised just how painful a puffy bite is.

[Ascension]

My new plan is that if I am riding with a mate, I will always let him go first down the single track, because"you are faster and I want to follow your line". Then stay about 20 meters back, and take it easy while he faces the snakes.

 

Just remember that a puffy might strike fast, but only when it actually strikes. A puffy don`t usually strike immediately, so the 1st rider will piss off the puffy and be gone and then the puffy will be ready to take revenge on the following rider.

[Meezo]

Just remember that a puffy might strike fast, but only when it actually strikes. A puffy don`t usually strike immediately, so the 1st rider will piss off the puffy and be gone and then the puffy will be ready to take revenge on the following rider.

 

we experienced this with a juvenile puffy on table mountain, he barely moved, we tried with a moerse long stick to get him off the path, for both those using the path and to save him, but he refused to move.

[forkie]

i wander if snakes an tell the difference between bike and rider? if not they will probably bite the bike 9 times out of 10.

 

This is what I tell myself anyway

[Ascension]

i wander if snakes an tell the difference between bike and rider? if not they will probably bite the bike 9 times out of 10.

 

This is what I tell myself anyway

 

"The ability to sense infrared thermal radiation evolved independently in several different families of snakes. Essentially, it allows these animals to "see"^[1] radiant heat at wavelengths between 5 and 30 μm to a degree of accuracy such that a blind rattlesnake can target vulnerable body parts of the prey at which it strikes,^[2] and other snakes with the organ may detect warm bodies from a meter away"

 

I do not volunteer to test your theory.

[forkie]

"The ability to sense infrared thermal radiation evolved independently in several different families of snakes. Essentially, it allows these animals to "see"^[1] radiant heat at wavelengths between 5 and 30 μm to a degree of accuracy such that a blind rattlesnake can target vulnerable body parts of the prey at which it strikes,^[2] and other snakes with the organ may detect warm bodies from a meter away"

 

I do not volunteer to test your theory.

dammit!

[HDW]

Just remember that a puffy might strike fast, but only when it actually strikes. A puffy don`t usually strike immediately, so the 1st rider will piss off the puffy and be gone and then the puffy will be ready to take revenge on the following rider.

 

Ok, new plan: get football style shin guards for both the shin and calf areas. 

[HDW]

"The ability to sense infrared thermal radiation evolved independently in several different families of snakes. Essentially, it allows these animals to "see"^[1] radiant heat at wavelengths between 5 and 30 μm to a degree of accuracy such that a blind rattlesnake can target vulnerable body parts of the prey at which it strikes,^[2] and other snakes with the organ may detect warm bodies from a meter away"

 

I do not volunteer to test your theory.

 

That is actually incredible. 

[Piston ZA]

"The ability to sense infrared thermal radiation evolved independently in several different families of snakes. Essentially, it allows these animals to "see"^[1] radiant heat at wavelengths between 5 and 30 μm to a degree of accuracy such that a blind rattlesnake can target vulnerable body parts of the prey at which it strikes,^[2] and other snakes with the organ may detect warm bodies from a meter away"

 

I do not volunteer to test your theory.

Jip, they warn you not to carry a puff adder in a cardboard box. They are able to sense where your hands are from your body heat, and with the size and power of their fangs, can bite you through the cardboard box

[HDW]

Jip, they warn you not to carry a puff adder in a cardboard box. They are able to sense where your hands are from your body heat, and with the size and power of their fangs, can bite you through the cardboard box

 

Like my wife and my wallet.

[forkie]

Jip, they warn you not to carry a puff adder in a cardboard box. They are able to sense where your hands are from your body heat, and with the size and power of their fangs, can bite you through the cardboard box

thats actually really good to know.

[forkie]

maybe hopefully the disc brakes will be a nice hot target for them

[Bikeguy]

For ease of reference, free PDF posters with common snakes per province, region or city are available from ASI:

 

https://www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com/posters/

 

 

[tinmug]

(From a snake expert I know)

A puff adder can strike an inflated ballon three times before you will see it deflate. Sobering.

 

Cobras (and most others) will almost always try like hell to get out your way. Puff adder couldn't care rocks. Mole snakes can also be fairly laid back in human presence. Puffies worry me the most. And don't think you're safe of you ride at night. 

 

 

 

 

Going looking for that SA snake app right now (and thanks for the tip).