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Don't know if anyone remembers my story of me trying to get a snake that was driven over out of the road.
I have now found out with detailed pictures and another sighting that it was a black mamba.
I thought it was a grass snake.
Why did it not strike out though? Luckily it didn't!
My other question is which snakes eat eggs?
We have two chickens and two guinea pigs in an enclosed fence cage because of the Caracals in the area but something is digging holes and stealing the eggs.
What can it be.
The snakes i know of in our area: mamba, common grass snake and the puffadder, geelslang and boomslang.
Can anyone help.

Natasha maybe it didn't strike out because your guardian angel was working overtime

Jeepers. ..I agree with MM..your Guardian Angel was definitely working overtime !




Just a thought..maybe it is a mongoose of sorts that is stealing the eggs... apparently some of them will eat eggs .

I agree with Caracal on the egg eating! Most probably mongoose or maybe a monitor lizard. I would say the only snake species that eat eggs are the Egg eaters. Specialized feeding technic ! I know however that Chicken coups tend to attract snakes, especially Cobras. Probably because the eggs and feed attracts rats/mice.

Was the Black Mamba injured or stuck on the road Natasha? If I remember your post correctly then The reason you wanted to help the snake was because it was hit by a car right? Maybe God wants you around a little longer hey ?!!! WEW. Now you can brag about being eye to eye with a Mamba!

The snake was hit by a car but wasn't squashed at all.
He just had blood coming from between his scales it looked like.
But I'm sure he could have slithered away on his own.
We still looked for him the next morning but he was gone.
Have seen mongoose looking creatures run over the road but didn't know what they were but i haven't seen any monitor lizards.
Are'nt they huge lizards that can eat my dogs! Love animal planet and one of the programs they had this guy swim after one onto an island.
They are quite vicious but are they also not found overseas?
Back to the Mamba, I read that they are not going to attack unless they are put in a corner or feel threatened.
All i wanted to do was push him to the side of the road with my shoe.
He probably thought i must have just been mad and not threatening!

Well then if it was only hit..... Here I can only suggest if you want to push it of the road and your not sure what your dealing with rather use a stick or something from the car.
Gives you some safety zone in case the snake decides that your a threat!
Remember this still is a injured animal.... can be dangerous.
I do however like the fact that your willing to help and not just drive on by.

Hi Natasha

The Black Mamba is a very nervous snake….and can be very aggressive….in the bush they normally will flee long before you see them. They are however unpredictable…and as we found out, they do not always follow the “behavioural rules” that are prescribed for them in books.

I think you should maybe just look at other ID options for the snake you saw….the Black Mamba is not at all found in the Western Cape….maybe a Mole Snake or the black colour variant of the Cape Cobra (geelslang)?

I saw in another thread that you enquired about a reference book you can use to ID and learn about snakes…I can also fully recommend the book by Johan Marais. If you have a lot of snakes around it is very good to have a proper book to help you to ID them.