Durban – Snake rescuer Nick Evans was called to catch a black mamba in Reservoir Hills, Durban, after it was spotted on the roof awning.
Evans didn’t locate the snake but he did find where it had been living, on the roof of the house.
“After seeing people, the mamba moved down on to an embankment right next to the roof, which is where I saw it.
“I chased it into a small section of roofing, the entry point being just above where the embankment met the wall.”
He said when he lifted the roof tile he found many signs that a black mamba had been living there.
The first thing he noticed was a shed skin on the barbed wire outside the roof. He also found snake faeces.
“Under the roof tiles, the smell of mamba was strong. It's similar to the smell of curry, sort of.”
Evans said he was puzzled that he couldn’t locate the snake.
“I can only think there's a hole going into the main ceiling of the house. Then, it could be anywhere.”
He said the snake’s ability to escape and hide showed that the mamba had been living there for months, if not longer.
“The residents had absolutely no idea it was there. The ceiling is above a bathroom. This is not the first call I've had like this.
“Isn't it fascinating how these 2m+ snakes can live in a family's roof, come out to bask, hunt rats, and not get seen for months, maybe even years?” said Evans.
He said this showed just how shy and secretive mambas were.
Evans said the family was on the lookout for the mamba and he was expecting a call about the snake soon.