Snakes on Campus

If you find a snake on campus, do not try to kill it - this will only cause panic, make the animal aggressive, and increase your risk of being bitten. Rather do as follows:

    Night adder eating a frog

• Keep calm, and move slowly and quietly away.
• Contact one of the numbers below - so a snake handler listed below can come and remove the snake.
• Ask somebody to keep careful watch - it is wise to know where the snake goes.
• If it seems safe, place a waste paper bin or a bucket upside down over the animal to confine it.

RU emergency contacts

• RU Campus Protection Unit: 046-603.8146 (they will contact a snake handler for you)
• RU Grounds & Gardens: 046-603.8240 (they will contact a snake handler for you)
• Makana Fire & Rescue Services: 046-622.4444 or 046-603.6000
• Settlers Hospital 046-622.2215 or a local doctor (for treatment of snake bites).
• What do do in case of snake bite.

Harlequin snake - beautiful and harmless

Snake handlers in Grahamstown

1. Basil Mills: 083 420 2633
2. Sirion Robertson: Tel 046 603 8941, Cell 078 238 8502
3. John Midgley: 072 854 2607
4. Martin Villet: Tel 046 603 8527, Cell 083 565 5949
5. Chris Kelly: Tel 046 603 8715, Cell 076 419 6656
6. Mario Rionda: Tel 046 636 2276, Cell 071 090 0127
7. Charl Grobbelaar (CPU): Tel 046 603 8146/7
8. Nikki Kohly: 046 603 7205, Cell 078 268 3533

Boomslang - shy and graceful

Other animals

• More about dealing with other animals on campus.

Go to the Rhodes University ENVIRONMENT front page. Suggestions/Questions? Contact environment(at)ru.ac.za