In honour of World Snake Day on Tuesday, July 16, renowned Upper Highway snake catcher Nick Evans shared how he was called to the N2/N3 Spaghetti Junction construction site after workers discovered a clutch of snake eggs.
Back in March, the construction team sent Evans a photograph of the eggs. The eggs, that were stuck together in a lump—a characteristic typical of snake eggs—immediately caught Evans’ attention.
“They looked like brown house snake eggs to me. They were laid in a safe spot, under a pipe, just beneath the surface,” said Evans on Facebook.
Without delay, Evans carefully transferred the eggs into a small box filled with the sand in which they were found. He then placed the box in a warm cupboard, ensuring the eggs were in an optimal environment for hatching. Evans was particularly amazed by the journey the female snake must have undertaken to lay her eggs in such an unusual location.
“Although house snakes are nocturnal, maybe the snake crossed at night when the roads are quieter. Or perhaps there are a few living there, breeding. I haven’t had any calls from the construction team about actual snakes, so perhaps not. It was a tiny patch to live in,” he said.
Evans was also surprised by the timing of the eggs, noting that most house snakes would have hatched by March. He speculated that it could have been a late clutch laid in January or possibly a second clutch from a well-fed female, given the healthy rat population in Durban that supports their diet. “I think it was the latter,” said Evans.
To Evans’ delight, the eggs eventually hatched, revealing they were indeed brown house snakes. “They were cute, pretty little snakes, which I released. At their size, they’ll mostly feed on lizards,” Evans said.
He expressed his gratitude towards the construction team for their concern and efforts to ensure the eggs were safely removed.
“A big thank you to the construction team for caring enough to call to have the eggs removed safely. I’m extremely grateful to them,” he said.
