Spring Time is Snake Time

Be on the lookout for snakes on your outings during the spring and summer. The warm temperatures and longer daylight hours that stimulate people to get out and enjoy nature also trigger the same response in snakes.  

Snakes lead the list of most misunderstood and feared of all animals. There are 27 naturally occurring species found between the Paarl mountain rangers to Cape Point. Only 3 can cause unfortunate human medical priorities if intentionally handled.

Many harmless snakes meet untimely deaths at the hands of shovel-wielding humans. Even if you do not go out in search of snakes, you may encounter them on your spring and summer adventures. If you encounter a snake, move away and give the creature room to escape. They deserve your healthy respect-for your safety as well as theirs.

Remember, any warnings from a snake are meant to help avoid conflict. A snake will never attack a human but will defend itself if given no other alternative.

Every spring snakes come out of hibernation on the hunt for a much needed spring meal. Snakes are an important part of the natural food chain, eating a great variety of prey, from rats and birds to frogs and other reptiles.

Snakes form part of the very important balance in our ecosystem controlling vermin rodents, who destroy our crops and who carry numerous diseases. A simple equation, the more snakes we kill, the more rodents and pests there are.

We have encroached into their natural habitat, through habitat degradation, fragmentation and urban expansion.

Our ponds, heaps of building rubble and rockeries in and around our garden and homes create micro-environments, which will inevitably attract snakes.

Remember snakes are attracted to neglected areas where there is not much disturbance, as snakes avoid confrontation. There is no real way of keeping snakes off your property, but if you keep your grass cuts short, trees well-trimmed and clean up all your building rubble, just to mention a few, then there is less likelihood for snakes to reside on your property. In short keep your garden tidy.

Shaun MacLeod 082-532 5033
W/Cape Snake Rescue coordinator  
Director of REAC (Reptile Educational Awareness Consultants)

If a snake is encountered contact Shaun 082 532 5033,

 24/7 for advice or for emergencies pertaining to snake encounters.

Animal Behaviourist Required

Attention all Animal Behaviourists,
We are looking for 2 or 3 animal behaviourists who can be on stand-by for the Sunset Beach (Milnerton, Cape Town) community. 

The community shares a public pet friendly beach and often get exposed to situations where only a professional can really make a difference. 

Sunset Beach Home Owners Association will fund the project and the people who are able to join the team. 

Requirements are: 

• We need to have 2 or 3 Animal Behaviourists available for Sunset Beach. (If 1 can't help, another could step in). 
• This includes emergency cases, where we need a behaviourist to be on the scene immediately, or consult per phone within the same time-frame. 

Any willing and available person please contact us on 0824649146 or info@sunsetbeach.org.za

We will also provide these individuals free opportunities of exposure to build their Animal Behaviour business by means of advertising and marketing to the community.

Free Seminar on Dog Safety on the Beach

It is always a contentious issue when a beach is declared leash free. On the one side, there is nothing nicer than seeing a dog run freely and wagging it's tail out of delight of freedom and happiness. On the other hand there are beach goers who also want to enjoy the beach but their dogs might be on a lead because they are recovering from an operation or injury, on heat, maybe blind and scared, or maybe not the kind of dog that likes to be around other dogs out of fear or maybe protective.

How to Be a Good Neighbour

Being on bad terms with your neighbour can make your life frustrating, day after day. But taking the time to establish good terms with your neighbours has numerous benefits. The community will be friendlier, the neighbourhood safer, and the area a nicer and more comfortable place to live.

Tips

1. Send them a bouquet of flowers, invite them over for dinner, offer to babysit or petsit, something like that. They will be very happy.
2. Really good neighbours watch out for each other. They ask each other for advice, and offer to help, especially on matters that impact the larger neighbourhood. They respect each others' boundaries but are quick to assist in a crisis. They look for opportunities to collaborate and to socialize. - Great neighbours make for great neighbourhoods, and it is well worth the effort.
3. Check local regulations regarding fires in your backyard and noise levels. There are laws in most jurisdictions regulating such things.
4. If you are experiencing problems with an anti-social neighbour and you are unable to resolve them yourself, then see if your local government has website information on dispute resolution. For example, look for a website with information on how to tackle anti-social behaviour in your community. Law Enforcement 021 554 8005.

Introduce yourself. Whether you're new in the neighborhood or new residents have just moved in on your block, introduce yourself. Say hello, offer a welcoming gift (the classic homemade pie never fails) and share or ask about the local area: "Where's the nearest pizzeria?" or "The garbage truck comes by on Mondays, usually around 10 in the morning, but sometimes he sneaks in at 8."