Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) - venomous and very dangerous. -- I was called out to remove a Boomslang from someone's garden in Melkbosstrand. These snakes are very fast, and by the time I got there it was no-where to be found. We searched for quite a while before I finally saw it on the neighbour's lawn - it was promptly captured and relocated to the bush. This species is known for its strikingly large eyes - the largest of any African snake. Females are light to olive brown with dirty white to brown bellies, whereas males may have a variety of colors. Shy and diurnal (active during the day), they spend most of their lives in trees and shrubs where they hunt eggs, birds, frogs, chameleons, and other tree-dwelling lizards. Their venom is haemotoxic, which means that it affects the clotting mechanism in blood and leads to severe internal and external bleeding, or even haemorrhage if untreated. Although potent, the venom is slow-acting and may take more than 24 hours to produce serious symptoms - an effective anti-venom is available in some locations. There are two common myths about the Boomslang: firstly, that they drop from trees onto people who walk by (they don’t), and secondly that because they’re rear-fanged they can only bite you on your little finger (they are rear-fanged, but can open their jaws 170 degrees and bite you almost anywhere on your body). -- Download the “Snake Removal Pro” app to have instant access to your nearest snake catcher’s contact details, read frequently asked questions, watch snake rescue videos, and more: http://bit.ly/snakeremovalpro -- Your donations help us keep our community and wildlife safe! Even tiny amounts from enough of our fans would help us cover our fuel cost & time - simply click on one of the "Donate" buttons here: http://www.bloubergsnakerescue.co.za/ ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5Ip_RlEFx0

Mole Snake (Pseudaspis cana) - non-venomous, but can inflict a painful bite. *Please click on the button below to "Share" this post!* -- I was called out to a construction site to remove this Mole Snake from a storage container in Parklands yesterday. -- You can help us keep our wildlife safe! Even small donations help immensely: http://www.bloubergsnakerescue.co.za/donate -- Mole Snakes are found in a variety of habitats, even mountainous regions and deserts, but they're particularly common in sandy scrub-covered and grassveld regions. They spend most of their time underground, pushing their way through soft sand in search of moles and other rodents. Viviparous, they give live birth to anywhere between 25-50 babies in late summer. Interestingly, juvenile (young) mole snakes have a variety of patterns and colors that they lose completely once they reach adulthood. -- Read more about this species here: https://bloubergsnakerescue.co.za/snake-profiles/pseudaspis-cana-mole-snake/ Find your nearest snake catcher's contact details here: https://snakeremoval.co.za/ ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwE2PViiClc

Rough Thicktailed Scorpion (Parabuthus granulatus) - venomous & very dangerous. *Please click on the button below to "Share" this post!* — I collected this highly venomous Rough Thicktailed Scorpion from an office in Sandown Road earlier today. — These scorpions are found in the drier parts of Southern Africa, and can measure up to 115mm in length. Rough Thicktailed Scorpions are the most medically significant scorpion species in South Africa, with a few people that die from their neurotoxic sting every year. They tend to inhabit hard-packed sandy and gritty soil where they make burrows at the bases of shrubs or grass tufts, or under logs and stones. Members of this species are active hunters rather than ambushers, seeking prey which includes other scorpions. — If you enjoy our photos and videos and want to support the work we do, please consider making a small donation? Every little bit helps! http://www.bloubergsnakerescue.co.za/donate ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESrs4UhUxhw

Some video clips from this weekend's Snake Awareness & Handling Course by the Cape Reptile Institute. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiROEaoOKRU