AGRICULTURAL NEWS - According to Johan Marais, CEO of the African Snakebite Institute, it was difficult to quantify the number of snake bites, but 12 cases of bites by the little-known Stiletto snake were recorded during the past week (late November to early December).
“I urge farmers to warn children and farmworkers to refrain from picking up small snakes since the chances were good that it could be a Stiletto snake,” said Marais.
The main snake bite season usually lasted from January to April, but the mainly burrowing Stiletto surfaced during rainy and warm conditions.
Farms provided Stilettos with enough space and food, creating the ideal habitat.
The snakes prey on geckos and other small snakes.
