Xairu Snakes

Xairu Snakes Snake relocation, conservation and education services based in Suurbraak, Overberg.

Brown water snake relocated from a house in Suurbraak yesterday. Although temperatures are dropping, snakes are still ac...
29/05/2026

Brown water snake relocated from a house in Suurbraak yesterday.
Although temperatures are dropping, snakes are still active on warm days and this young harmless snake was found in the bathroom of a Suurbraak household by the domestic worker who showed great care for the snake by calling for it to be safely relocated.
Released in a stream near the wider Buffeljags river shortly after.
ID: Brown water snake (Lycodonomorphus rufulus)
Behaviour: Semi-aquatic and terrestrial
Diet: Small fish, frogs and toads
Identifying features: Scales are smooth, the eyes and nostrils are close to the top of the head and the belly is mother-of-pearl, yellow or pink in colour.
Non-venomous and harmless to people

Common Night Adder safely relocated today.Suurbraak resident Frido noticed a group of workers at the building site next ...
18/05/2026

Common Night Adder safely relocated today.
Suurbraak resident Frido noticed a group of workers at the building site next to his restaurant, In Paradise, gathered together taking photos and suspected they may have found a snake. After going over and confirming it was a snake, he contacted me to assist with the relocation.
The prominent V-shaped marking extending from roughly between the eyes to the back of the head, together with the dark rhombic markings on the back and the tail, are key features that help identify this species.
I used the ASI 80cm Mini snake tongs, which are ideal for working with smaller venomous snakes. The Night Adder remained calm throughout the relocation and didn’t become defensive or agitated.
It seems that these adders are sighted more regularly at the start and end of the warmer months here in !Xairu.

ID Common Night adder (Causus rhombeatus)
Other names: Rhombic Night Adder, Gewone Nagadder,
Length: Adults average 30-60cm but can reach 1m.
Habitat: Favours damp localities
Diet: Mainly frogs and toads
Venom: Cytotoxic

This morning there was a request for snake identification on our community WhatsApp group. Four of our snake catchers we...
14/05/2026

This morning there was a request for snake identification on our community WhatsApp group. Four of our snake catchers were active in the chat and identified the snake as a Boomslang, which surprised some of the nearby residents due to its small size and colouration.
Boomslang are roughly 20–40 cm in length when they hatch. Unlike the adults in the Western Cape - where females are typically brown and males are black above with white or yellow underneath - hatchlings look very different to the adults.
Young Boomslang are usually light grey to brown with irregular speckling along the body, bright yellow or orange colouration on the neck, and have striking emerald-green eyes. They are highly venomous from birth, so caution is still required when handling them.
None of the snake catchers were available to relocate the snake at the time, so I phoned and guided her through safely securing the snake herself using a bucket and a soft-bristled broom with a long handle. With the assistance of one of the workers on site, the snake was guided into the bucket and later released near a forest away from the houses.
Boomslang are completely independent from the time they hatch and only develop their adult coloration once they are close to a metre in length.
A big thank you to Iolanda for reaching out for help and safely releasing the snake, and to Rico for assisting with the capture.
This was a great example of residents and snake catchers working together through our WhatsApp group to protect our local snakes.
ID Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)
Other names: Tree snake
Behaviour: Active during the day and are excellent climbers, spending much of their time in trees though they can be found basking on the ground. They sometimes enter houses in !Xairu.
Diet: Birds, chameleons, lizards and frogs
Venom: Haemotoxic and highly venomous

Boomslang in the art supply shelf.On Saturday, we had a warm break between a few cold and rainy days. During the morning...
10/05/2026

Boomslang in the art supply shelf.
On Saturday, we had a warm break between a few cold and rainy days. During the morning, I heard several warning chirps from the local Cape Robins, suggesting that there might be a snake moving through the trees near the house.
Later in the day, as Shaz was finishing up some of her artwork, we noticed a dark tail disappearing into the lower art supply shelf beside her table. On closer inspection, I discovered a young male Boomslang looking quite comfortable tucked away among the supplies — maybe he was hoping to become the subject of Shaz’s next sketch or painting 😉
I fetched our equipment while Shaz kept an eye on him and I used the ASI mini tongs, which are ideal for smaller snakes and tight spaces.
Shaz brought the 70l bucket and lid forward so that I could safely place the snake inside.
He was released shortly afterwards into a tree in the kloof. Boomslang seem to make their way into houses occasionally in !Xairu and this is the 3rd one we’ve noticed trying to come inside our house.
ID Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)
Other names: Tree snake
Habits: A shy snake that spends much of the time in trees and is an excellent climber. They are active mainly in the daytime and feed on birds, rodents, frogs and lizards.
Colouration: variable by locality with the Cape male individuals usually being black above with white or yellow underneath and females being brown to greenish brown above and lighter brown underneath. Their roughly keeled scales are matte and not shiny. Their large eyes which are an emerald green in Juveniles is a strong identifying feature.
Venom: Haemotoxic and highly venomous.

Brown House snake (Boaedon capensis), a nocturnal constrictor that feeds primarily on rodents. This one was relocated fr...
07/05/2026

Brown House snake (Boaedon capensis), a nocturnal constrictor that feeds primarily on rodents. This one was relocated from a house in Suurbaak. Harmless to people and pets.

07/05/2026

A short video about the Brown House Snake for our local community around Swellendam, aimed at helping residents identify this species and know what to do if one is found.
Thanks to Shaz Perks for recording the video, which clearly shows the identifying features of this harmless snake.

A call came through on Sunday afternoon from a resident in Suurbraak who had discovered a brown snake tucked away inside...
04/05/2026

A call came through on Sunday afternoon from a resident in Suurbraak who had discovered a brown snake tucked away inside a kitchen cupboard.
My first thought was that it could be a cobra, as they have been found in cupboards and drawers in the area. I quietly hoped it might be a Brown House Snake, a species I had yet to encounter in Suurbraak. I set down my equipment and carefully inspected the cupboard using my head torch. Sure enough, there it was - a Brown House Snake, roughly 90 cm in length.
I gently removed the snake by hand and placed it into my bucket, noticing a large undigested meal in its belly.
I suggested to the homeowner that she allow the snake to remain, as Brown House Snakes are excellent at controlling rodents. However, she preferred that it be relocated, which I respected.
Brown House Snakes have a calm nature and are harmless to people and pets. They quietly do important work behind the scenes, helping to keep ecosystems in balance.
I’m glad to see one of these in Suurbraak and hope to see more in future.
ID: Brown House Snake (Boaedon capensis)
Other names: Bruinhuislang
Length: adults average 40-60cm but can reach 1.5m
Colour: Light to reddish brown, dark brown or near black. Two distinct pale stripes on either side of the head clearly identify the snake, one running from the snout across the upper part of the eye.
Behaviour: primarily nocturnal and terrestrial but can climb well. They are commonly found around human dwellings in rural areas.
Diet: Mainly rodents but may also eat bats, birds, lizards and geckos.
Not dangerous to people or pets.

The first in a series of snake identification cards, this one showcasing the Western Natal Green snake, a common snake f...
01/05/2026

The first in a series of snake identification cards, this one showcasing the Western Natal Green snake, a common snake found in !Xairu that gets misidentified as a Boomslang. Our hope is that these identification cards will assist residents to correctly identify the WNG and know who to call if they need assistance with snake rescue and relocation.

As the 2025/2026 snake season winds down, I’ve been reflecting on the rewarding and meaningful journey it’s been.Catchin...
21/04/2026

As the 2025/2026 snake season winds down, I’ve been reflecting on the rewarding and meaningful journey it’s been.
Catching and relocating snakes plays an important role in helping our community to conserve and understand these animals better. It’s a privilege to offer a service that provides a safe alternative for people who may not know how to respond when encountering a snake. My hope is that more people will learn to appreciate snakes and find ways to live alongside them in harmony.
A particular point Id like to make here is to leave Boomslang alone if they are in a tree and out of reach. They are shy, unobtrusive snakes and seldom try to bite unless threatened. They should be allowed to remain in their habitat.
To me snakes are fascinating and beautiful animals and when I see them at home, if it’s safe to do so,
I leave them in place.
As we move into late autumn, snake activity will begin to slow down. However, they may still be seen from time to time—especially on warmer days—so it’s always good to remain aware and we will be ready to help if necessary.
I’d like to thank the !Xairu Snakes community for the dedication and impact being made in protecting both people and wildlife.

Here’s a summary of the snake relocations I’ve carried out this season:

Snake Relocations 2025/2026
• 2 × Cape cobra (Naja nivea)
• 10 × Puff adder (Bitis arietans)
• 3 × Night adder (Causus rhombeatus)
• 4 × Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)
• 1 × Cross-marked grass snake (Psammophis crucifer)
• 1 × Berg adder (Bitis atropos)
• 1 × Olive snake (Lycodonomorphus inornatus)

Thank you to everyone who called, supported, and chose relocation over harm this season.

Address

Suurbraak
6743

Telephone

+27723384033

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