In recent weeks Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) has been inundated with callouts relating to snakes.
Reaction Officers have been attending to several cases daily of snakes on premises on the North Coast. Snake activity has increased as temperatures rise & the RUSA Operations Centers are receiving calls of large Black Mambas, Mozambican Spitting Cobras, Green Mambas & other species being spotted inside homes in rural & urban areas.
Reaction Officers have been Instructed to call out a snake catchers to assist in the humane capture and relocation of snakes if there is no imminent danger to human life. No snakes will be harmed.
In 2007 an On Duty Reaction Officer suffered injuries after a large Mozambican Spitting Cobra spat into his eyes at a home in Everest Heights in Verulam – KZN. He was treated on scene by
Paramedics and spent several days in recovery. Officers were then sent for Snake Handling Courses and were instructed to respond and ensure public safety whilst awaiting professional Snake Catchers to safely remove these reptiles.
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