Dr Carel J Oosthuizen, a senior lecturer in UP’s Department of Zoology and Entomology, and zoology master’s student Rüchelle Moolman, detail how to make your visit to nature reserves and protected areas safe and enjoyable this holiday season.

By understanding and respecting the animals we share our environment with, we are able to foster a safer, more harmonious world for both humans and wildlife. Accurate information can help us to reduce unnecessary fear and allow us to appreciate the important roles these creatures play in our ecosystems. Animals like scorpions, spiders, ticks and snakes have unique characteristics and behaviours that, when understood, reveal them as vital parts of nature rather than threats to be feared.

As we encounter these animals, especially in outdoor spaces, a calm and knowledgeable approach will allow us to coexist with them safely. Small efforts – such as observing where we step, checking for ticks or carefully relocating an indoor visitor – can make a big difference in minimising conflict. The Department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of Pretoria (UP) contributes to this understanding through research and public education. By embracing these insights and sharing them, we promote biodiversity and foster a respectful relationship with wildlife.

Snakes

Despite their reputation, most snakes are not aggressive towards humans and prefer to avoid encounters whenever possible. Respecting the space of these cold-blooded reptiles and appreciating their role in ecosystems will help to ensure safe, positive interactions with them. By staying alert in snake habitats, learning to identify different species and taking simple precautions, we can share the environment with snakes safely and respectfully.

A key feature in identifying a snake’s potential danger is the arrangement and type of its teeth. Some snakes do not have fangs and therefore are not venomous, relying instead on constriction or bites to capture prey. Other snakes possess fangs and venom, which vary in toxicity and function depending on the species. For instance, the hemotoxic venom of some snakes, like the boomslang, affect the red blood cells, leading to blood clotting and circulation symptoms. Others, such as the puff adder, have cytotoxic venom, which causes damage to tissue around the bite site. Meanwhile, highly venomous snakes like the black mamba use neurotoxic venom, which affects the nervous system and can lead to paralysis. In any case, if you’re bitten by a snake, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately.

Snakes are skilled at remaining unnoticed in their environment, which is partly why they’re so often accidentally stepped on. Many are ambush predators, hiding in leaf litter, under rocks or in tall grass, waiting for prey to pass by. This strategy, combined with their exceptional camouflage, makes them hard to spot, especially species like the puff adder that blend seamlessly with the ground. When in snake habitats, especially during warmer months, stay vigilant and watch where you step to reduce the risk of startling or accidentally stepping on a snake.

If you find a snake in your home, contact a qualified snake handler to relocate it safely. Attempting to remove the snake yourself without proper training can be risky, as even non-venomous snakes may react defensively. While waiting for assistance, keep an eye on the snake from a safe distance to ensure that it doesn't disappear into another part of your home, but do not attempt to block or chase it, as this could cause it to hide or become more defensive.

If it’s a small non-venomous snake, you can attempt to gently guide it with a long broom or stick to encourage it towards an open door. Alternatively, a large container and a piece of cardboard can be used: carefully place the container over the snake, slide the cardboard underneath and carry it outside. However, it’s essential to remain calm and avoid sudden movements, and to give the snake space.

If the snake is harmless, like the brown house snake, which has distinctive white lines above and below each eye, consider leaving it in your garden. Brown house snakes are effective hunters of rodents, which can be more harmful to humans by spreading diseases. Allowing these non-venomous snakes to remain undisturbed is a form of natural pest control.

The African Snakebite Institute provides a wealth of resources, including online identification courses. Visit www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com.  

Scorpions

Scorpions are fascinating creatures with distinctive physical features and behaviours that can help us safely coexist with them. Their recognisable pincers and tails with a stinger are used for hunting and self-defence. They carry neurotoxic venom, which allows them to immobilise prey or protect themselves when threatened. In South Africa, scorpions fall into two primary families: Buthidae and Scorpionidae.

Those in the Buthidae family have a thick tail and slender pincers. The thick tail signals that these scorpions rely on their venomous sting to capture prey. As a result, Buthidae scorpions, like the highly venomous Parabuthus species, are considered more dangerous to humans. In contrast, Scorpionidae scorpions have thin tails and larger, more robust pincers. They rely less on their sting because their large pincers are used primarily to capture and crush prey. This family includes species like the rock scorpion (Hadogenes troglodytes), which is less dangerous and tends to avoid stinging unless seriously threatened.

If you encounter a scorpion, take note of the size of its tail and pincers to gauge its potential risk. If it has a large, thick tail and slender pincers, it likely belongs to the more venomous Buthidae family. If it is a thin-tailed scorpion with large pincers, it is probably from the less harmful Scorpionidae family. Regardless of its type, it’s essential not to provoke or threaten a scorpion, as it may sting in self-defence.

If a scorpion finds its way into your home, you can safely relocate it without harm. Place a container over it, slide a piece of cardboard underneath and carry the container outside. Release the scorpion into a natural space, like a garden or field. Scorpions are beneficial to have around, as they help control insect populations. For outdoor enthusiasts and campers, scorpions present additional considerations. They’re drawn to warmth, and may crawl into shoes or other dark, enclosed spaces at night to stay warm. Placing your shoes in a sealed bag or checking them before putting them on can help avoid unexpected encounters. Night-time scorpion spotting can be a fun, educational experience. If you’re interested in observing them safely, bring a UV light on your next adventure; scorpions emit a blue-green glow under this light due to substances in their exoskeleton.

Spiders

A spider’s body consists of a cephalothorax (the head and thorax), abdomen and eight legs. Male spiders are often distinguishable by their enlarged pedipalps – appendages near their mouths that look like “boxing gloves” – and smaller abdomens. In contrast, females typically have larger abdomens and tend to be bigger overall. These differences in size and shape are part of their reproductive roles, with females often being more sedentary and males more active in search of mates.

While all spiders have venom, not all pose a threat to humans. Spider venom primarily immobilises prey and digests food, and most spider bites are harmless, causing little more than mild irritation. However, some spiders in South Africa are of medical importance due to their venom. Among them are brown and black button spiders, which possess neurotoxic venom that can affect the nervous system, and violin spiders and sac spiders, whose cytotoxic venom can damage tissue around the bite wound. Brown and black button spiders, relatives of the black widow, are easily recognised by their glossy, dark bodies and red or orange hourglass markings on their undersides. Violin spiders can be recognised by the distinct violin-shaped patch on their cephalothorax. Sac spiders are usually pale or light in colour and commonly found in folds of clothing or hidden in homes.

The effects of a medically significant spider bite vary by species. Button spider bites may cause symptoms like muscle cramps, pain and sweating, while violin and sac spider bites might result in localised swelling, redness and sometimes necrosis, where the tissue around the bite may break down. If a spider bites you and your symptoms seem unusual or severe, seek medical attention promptly to ensure proper treatment. However, it’s worth noting that bites from these spiders are rare, as they are typically reclusive and only bite in self-defence.

Many spiders found indoors are not aggressive, and may wander into homes in search of food or a mate. If you encounter a spider in your home, it’s usually simple to catch it in a container and release it outside, where it can contribute to pest control. Spiders are natural predators of insects, helping to keep mosquito and fly populations in check.

Ticks

Ticks are small, oval-shaped arachnids with short legs, and might seem harmless, but it’s important to understand their role as ectoparasites – organisms that live on the outside of other animals or humans. A tick attaches to a host’s skin and feeds on blood, which it needs to develop and reproduce. Their feeding habits, however, make them vectors of various diseases. In South Africa and many other regions, ticks can transmit diseases to humans and animals alike. One of the most common tick-borne diseases in humans is tick bite fever, which can cause symptoms like fever, headache and body aches, typically appearing days after a bite.

Ticks are found in grassy, wooded and brushy areas where they wait on vegetation to latch onto passing animals or people. Simple precautions can reduce the risk of tick bites and associated illnesses when heading into tick-prone areas. Wear long pants and closed shoes that cover your ankles to create a barrier. Tucking your pants into your socks and applying insect repellent on clothing can provide added protection. After spending time outdoors, check yourself thoroughly for ticks. They’re skilled at positioning themselves in hidden or hard-to-reach areas on the body, such as behind the ears, underarms, along the waistband and in other skin folds.

If you find a tick on your skin, remove it immediately, as disease transmission is less likely if the tick is removed before it has fed for a prolonged period. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to your skin, pulling it out with steady, even pressure to ensure the mouthparts are removed along with the body. Avoid twisting or jerking, as this could leave parts of the tick embedded, which may increase the risk of infection.

Ticks are part of the ecosystem, serving as food for birds, reptiles and other wildlife, and they play a role in natural pest control. Still, their capacity to transmit disease makes it important for humans to take precautions and practise safe removal techniques. So be mindful of tick habitats, dress appropriately and conduct tick checks.

Disclaimer: Please be advised that this is a personal opinion and does not reflect the views of the University of Pretoria.