Durban snake catcher Nick Evans has recently rescued four vine/twig snakes in Durban, one of which had a severed spine and did not survive.
On Tuesday, Evans said that there has been a number of vine/twig snakes of late, most of which, excitingly, were gravid (pregnant).
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He said three of the snakes were in Westville, on properties around the Palmiet Nature Reserve, and the other in Moseley, bordering Paradise Valley.
Evans said that one of the snakes had a severed spine and did not survive.
“Most likely the resident cat, which showed a lot of interest in it. That was the only sad call of late,” Evans said.
“One of the three pictured… laid 10 eggs and has been released. The other two are yet to lay, but are about to pop at any moment.”
“We’ve got two other clutches from females caught in other areas as well. It’s been a bumper season for mother vine snakes! Most I’ve seen in a season so far. Lucky me! Looking forward to when they all hatch!” Evans continued.
He said that vine snakes were a highly venomous species and were common around Durban, but it was docile and inoffensive if left alone.
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He added that they feed on lizards, other snakes such as bush snakes, and nestling birds.
Recently, Evans had the last mamba clutch (group of eggs) of the season in his hand.
Evans said he caught a couple of gravid black mambas this season and other snakes.
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He said they let the mothers lay their eggs and then release them because most of the time, he catches the mothers when they are about to lay their eggs, for example, in someone’s retaining wall. However, in the wild, most of the mothers would leave their eggs, except for pythons and skaapstekers, which remain with their eggs.
“This clutch is from a 2.5m black mamba. She laid 13, including one infertile egg. The eggs are over 6cm in length and 3cm in width. Large eggs!” exclaimed Evans.
“In two to three months’ time, they’ll hatch. They’ll have the same venom as their parents, so one can’t exactly play with them.”
Evans said he would release the snakelets soon after hatching.
He said all snake eggs were stuck together and when people found round eggs in piles of sand or compost, not joined together, those were usually agama (blue-headed lizard) eggs.
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