The last couple of weeks, the Zoutpansberger received several reports about snakes making their way into homes in Makhado (Louis Trichardt).

On 18 April, the Zoutpansberger got a call from a very scared elderly resident staying near the corner of Ruh and President Street. Unable to get a hold of a local “snake catcher”, the newspaper responded by catching the snake itself - a huge and very angry Mozambican Spitting Cobra. Needless to say, the snake was only caught after rearranging the resident’s living room a bit. The good news for the snake was that it was not necessary to kill it and it was released again a safe distance from the home.

Just over a week later, the same resident again phoned and said there was another snake in her living room. This time, however, the outing was far less challenging as the snake turned out to be nothing more than a harmless Spotted Bush Snake.

A week or so after this, the Zoutpansberger got another call from a local business that had spotted a snake in their storeroom – also a huge snake but apparently not a python. We are not sure whether the business ended up catching or killing the snake.

On Friday, 16 May, another snake caused a couple of nervous moments at the home of Ms Trieks Spies on the corner of Breda and Kruger Street. It was, however, not just any snake. It was one of Africa’s most feared snakes, a huge and very aggressive Black Mamba.

Trieks says her husband was working at his desk when he heard something at their door. At first he thought it was their cats coming in from outside. His suspicion was aroused when he hear things falling on the ground. It turns out that it was the mamba that had come into their house uninvited, sailed over a little antique washing table, and knocked down a couple of copper ornaments.

The snake eventually found its way to the kitchen, where it sought refuge between two fridges. In the meantime, help was summoned and the snake was eventually killed.

This far into winter already, the question asked by many is: Is it normal for snakes to be so active at this time of the year?

Mr Alan McMurtrie of the local Department of Environmental Affairs explained on Monday that the reason why the snakes are still so active is because winter came a bit late this year. “It hasn’t been really cold yet. Only this week did it start getting really cold,” McMurtrie said. The recent good rains and the colder summer weather also contributed to many snakes' still lurking around. McMurtrie said that because of the colder summer months, snakes have not been that active, also with regard to feeding, and many still need to “catch up” before the winter is here in full force. As it gets colder, snake sightings are sure to decline.

Many of the snake sightings occurred at homes near the town’s Green Belt area. McMurtrie said that this thick, bushy growth is an excellent habitat for snakes as it houses enough rodents and food for them. When it comes to snakes scouting out houses, McMurtrie said, this is because they are seeking shelter, not to come and attack humans. Snakes seldom just attack someone and will almost always try to get away from a person. He warned, however, that while some snakes might be easier to catch than others, one should not mess around with snakes. McMurtrie said that in cases where a dangerous and aggressive snake like the mamba is trapped in a home, it is understandable that people would rather opt to kill it than to try and catch it.

As to whom residents can call when having problems with snakes, their options are limited. “We use to do it, but not any more as it is not within our mandate. Nonetheless, residents can still phone us should they have a problem with a snake. We will still try and assist with help,” McMurtrie said, adding that people who catch snakes need a permit to do so or transport them.