Deadly venomous Black mambas in the city, snake rescuer Nick Evans talks about his job

[@russellthompson1245]

I rescued snakes in CT and West Virginia. I'm here to help.this dude is absolutely essential to preserve the future and life of or beautiful reptiles. Awesome work nick

[@LivingZoology]

Thank you for watching! Please follow Nick on his social media, he wants to create an option how people can directly support him.

[@ca9968]

I used to follow Nick on Facebook before I left that toxic swamp in 2021...he always responded to comments and always posted some great rescues...glad to see he`s still at it and doing well... I now live in the UK but grew up on the East Rand in Johannesburg, we went through a period in the mid to late 1980`s where we were constantly getting Rinkals (Hemachatus haemachatus) in our garden or in neighbors gardens, my brother became quite good at catching them and relocating them back to a large veld that was a few kilometers from where we lived...he said that it was always when the rains came and the frog population got higher that they seemed to appear... That species of snake still fascinates me to this day...

[@LivingZoology]

Nick does a great job for years already! Unfortunately, the situation is worse since covid in terms of finances for him. Rinkhals like wetlands and their favorite prey are toads and frogs, so they are active after rains. Did you watch our video about Rinkhals? m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3K9gmyDn5udsLM

[@nickevans-snakerescuer1973]

Sheesh, for a moment I thought my page was the toxic swamp😂Thanks for the support while you were on there! I must say, I agree with you, FB is not my favourite platform. Anyway, yes Rinkhals are a fascinating species. I've only ever caught/seen one in the wild, in Underberg. Would love to work with more. I can definitely imagine you and your brother had plenty in that part of the world!

[@ca9968]

@@nickevans-snakerescuer1973 hey Nick...nice to speak with you again. I`m glad you`re well and still out there doing what you can for one of natures most misunderstood creatures! I grew up in Groeneweide in Boksburg near a large area of farms and veld, there were plenty of snakes around, we regularly used to catch and relocate Rinkals and we also came across Brown House snakes, Aurora House snakes, Skaapsteekers and the occasional Egg Eater... I haven`t been back to that area since 2010 so have no idea what it`s like now or how many snakes are still around but there were always big specimens of Rinkals around, especially around the dams that the farms used for irrigation...

[@sharonrigs7999]

He should be getting paid by the corrupt ANC

[@mrkipling2201]

​@nickevans-snakerescuer1973 thanks for the amazing work you do!! I've seen you on KZbin before and always admire your snake catching prowess!! Along with the other bloke on KZbin from South Africa, Jason. He's great too. Keep up the great work!!

[@bruceu1419]

This gentleman Nick is very brave for handling deadly snakes and rescuing them. I like snakes a lot more than I used to thanks to Matej and Zuzana, but I can't imagine getting so close to a black mamba.

[@nickevans-snakerescuer1973]

I am glad Matej and Zuzana have helped you. They definitely put in a lot of work into their videos and education mission. Nothing wrong with being a little scared of Black Mambas. In certain situations, I am scared too. But if you leave them alone, they will leave you alone, as I'm sure you know.

[@LivingZoology]

We are very happy that watching our videos helped you to like snakes more! 🙂 As Nick says, it is absolutely ok to have respect to Black mambas. They deserve it. The most important thing to know is that any snake, if you keep your distance, will leave you alone 🙂

[@GreenichViper]

Thanks Matej and Zuzana for this episode -really nice, long and informative interview with Nick, who makes a stellar job. I hope his financial situation turns for the better - if people were just investing half of what the eventual snake bite treatment in the hospital would cost into his work, his job (from the financial security perspective) would be made so much easier. Thanks everyone involved for this episode!

[@LivingZoology]

Thank you very much for your positive review! We also hope that Nick’s financial situation will get better and he will be appropriately payed for what he does!

[@najamossambica]

I have come across Nick Evans' posts on Instagram several times now. I now know the man behind the name. It's sad to hear about the problems he encounters in his work and what people do in fear of snakes. All the more important is his work. Thanks to him! 💚

[@LivingZoology]

Thanks for watching! We also hope that Nick will get properly paid in the future!

[@Intrud0r]

Really good episode, thanks for that. What a cool guy.

[@LivingZoology]

Thank you very much! Great that you like this episode!

[@johnrambo8900]

Ein hervorragender Kanal. Gleichfalls dieser Beitrag!! DANKE.

[@LivingZoology]

Thank you very much! Great that you love our channel! 🙂

[@colleenwadley8543]

Thank you, we need to hear this.

[@LivingZoology]

Thank you very much for watching!

[@roelien7779]

We encountered a Puffadder, Boomslang and Nag adder: they ALL wanted to get away from us! They do not want to attack. We caught them and released them in nature parks. But because we live close to a cliff, we keep our eyes open

[@LivingZoology]

Exactly, snakes just want to get away from us!

[@michaelmayhood4286]

Thanks Again! Right on and cool stuff!

[@LivingZoology]

Thank you very much! 🙏

[@bluebird1422]

Excellent video

[@LivingZoology]

Thank you very much!

[@blakkat4126]

This was a very interesting and informative video.

[@LivingZoology]

Glad it was helpful and enjoyable!

[@virvoy]

I remember watching a documentary ages ago where African tribesmen were stuffing puff adders into their mouths, one guy had about 10 or so in his gob at the same time & the adders weren't small, big fat serpents that could have done serious damage, obviously entertainment for the tourists...PS. I also wanted to say how very interesting this interview was with Nick Evans, such a down to earth guy without any pretense whatsoever, You are offering a great service to the people of Durban, please post more videos if you can, you had my attention the whole time throughout this interview, totally engrossing personal bio, I was hoping for more but you covered your life and snake handling skills & it was all fascinating, keep up the good work Nick, looking forward to watching more...

[@LivingZoology]

Those people putting puff adders into their mouths probably defanged those snakes first. Thanks for watching! Great that you enjoyed watching our video and please follow Nick on his social media!

[@virvoy]

Nick, Amazing video and the work that you do should be a paid position by by either the state or @ least local govt. this type of service is much too important not to be recognized, please don't get me started on the upper echelons of power, I sincerely hope your situation improves for 2024, you seem very personable and know about the business of handling snakes especially mamba's, the way you put them in the bucket and just let go of your hand gave me the horrors, that coffin shaped head and black mouth is awesome, the stuff of nightmares, All the very best & Thanks again... Anyone reading this in the halls of government in Durban, PLEASE pay this man,NOW!!!

[@LivingZoology]

Thank you for watching. Nick does a great job and we hope that he will get properly paid soon!

[@Rikki-Tikki-Tavi]

Its really crazy that he and others like him have to wrangle their own funding! I realize that there's probably a great descrepency between those who could easily pay and those that cant at all, but there's got to be some way of charging folks fairly - especially for calls that turn out to be a waste of time and gas because the snake is gone or was never there in the first place. Ideally this would be a government funded service; like an extension of classic wildlife management.

[@nickevans-snakerescuer1973]

I'm glad you see that- thank you🙏 Admittedly, I could be more firm with those who I know can afford to pay, about paying a fee, and I am getting better that way (otherwise I have to quit and get a job). I'm looking at the NPO route too. All snake catchers struggle. Perhaps in a functioning government, we could get funding. Here, in the land of the corrupt and useless, no chance🤣

[@nickevans-snakerescuer1973]

I have enquired in the past about the municipality paying me/us. Was told no. When they call, they either say they can pay, which takes months, or can't. So no I won't answer their calls. I will help many people for free, but not the government.

[@LivingZoology]

In some countries, like Australia, snake rescuers are often paid by government. That is the best way. We also know about places where rescuers have a fee and people pay themselves. It is a job as any other. If you call a plumber, you don’t expect to get a service for free. It is the same with a snake rescuer and moreover, the snake rescuer risks his/her life. We hope that Nick will find a way how to be properly funded for his great job! 🤞

[@williammeyer214]

Excellent, thanks for all the good work.

[@LivingZoology]

Very welcome and thank you for watching!

[@freedomm]

I'm in Kenya, not South Africa, but this is still relevant. I don't know why South Africa appears to have more snake intrusions than Kenya.

[@LivingZoology]

Thanks for watching!

[@Herping_with_Liam_and_Sean]

It is less built up and disturbed and developed by human activity.🐍 less🏙️🏢 more 🛤️🏞️🌄🌌

[@JoziGB]

Depends on which areas of South Africa. Dbn is more vegetated with rain forest climate and that’s great areas for snakes but moreover people are starting to build into areas that are snake habitats

[@daleenalberts5829]

Thanks for this video. Nick is well known for his work. Sad that he struggles financially. We all fight this battle in RSA. 🎉🎉

[@LivingZoology]

@@daleenalberts5829 Great that you like our video! Nick is doing a great work indeed!

[@MayaRampersadh]

Nick ,u r doing a gr8 job ,so much mamba around an u r always ther to catch it 4 the peoples safety I always admire u.,but u must always take all safety precautions, i c u with slips, no gloves, that not safe, may the good lord always hv his protective hands upon u..,,🙏🙏

[@LivingZoology]

Nick is doing a great job, we agree! He knows that flip flops might not be the best footwear but otherwise he is very careful! :)

[@spokenme08]

The coffin heads are gorgeous snakes. The flightiness is worrying but understandable. I’d be angry too if someone sprayed bug spray at me. I just glad our only Elapids are shy. The pit vipers are enough to worry about.

[@LivingZoology]

Thank you for watching! Yes, mambas are shy and it is understandable that they are defending themselves when someone is hurting them!

[@JoziGB]

Snakes avoid people, but people don’t avoid people

[@LivingZoology]

Yes, people don’t avoid people.

[@BaSiC47]

The editing is very good between the interview and random snake footage. Otherwise it would probably become a little bit boring.

[@LivingZoology]

Great that you like our editing! :)

[@knitter4years]

We only have one venomous snake in my city. The Pacific Western rattle snake. It's a beaut

[@LivingZoology]

That’s a nice species!

[@commentwell3870]

Nice interview. First!

[@LivingZoology]

Glad you enjoyed it and great that you are the first! :)

[@bonecrusher6264]

❤❤

[@knitter4years]

Awesome video

[@LivingZoology]

@@knitter4years Thank you!

[@faithnaidoo7647]

"Snakes are the least of concerns".Wow.I lived most of my life in rural KZN.I feel fortunate to be still alive!!!.Yes I agree that they should be left alone!!!.I came across these venomous slithering everywhere you go.Its snake area.I am so grateful I don't live in KZN anymore but the trauma of being bitten is still in me.I still look around for snakes in my house and garden even though there are none.😅😅😅

[@RickKeegan-l5v]

Very informative ... Shot ... Ask if you got spider questions 😊

[@MsBerco]

I'm male, flew to Kenya, had a glas of whiskey and picked up a stilletto snake that I misjudged from a wolfesnake. All was fine for half a minute, then it bit me. 🙂 Now I can laugh about it, but first, it wasn't funny at all. 🙂

[@LivingZoology]

Thanks for your comment! Classic example, good that you can laugh about it now! 😀

[@nickevans-snakerescuer1973]

Ouch!!!

[@MsBerco]

@@nickevans-snakerescuer1973 😵🥴😅

[@MsBerco]

@@nickevans-snakerescuer1973That venom makes for sure that you will never try twice.

[@heatherbrunner2165]

Are stilettos venomous?

[@TheErik249]

You would think that South Africa would want to hire an animal control team specializing in venomous snakes to protect residents from that large population of snakes in South Africa. But according to this man in the interview there aren't that many snake bites. Their problem has been violence amongst the human population ever since apartied was abolished. Everybody thought things were going to get better. But for some strange reason, that never happened.

[@LivingZoology]

It is as Nick says, humans are the main threat in South Africa, snakes not so much! But still the human-snake conflict is a thing in some areas and it is great that there are snake rescuers who mitigate it.

[@nickevans-snakerescuer1973]

But Erik, more jobs means less money for the politicians, we can't expect that, shame...😂 But yes. Just look at the state of the world. Humans kill humans daily, by the masses.

[@moritzlischke]

❤❤❤❤ cool jop nice guy

[@LivingZoology]

Thanks for watching!

[@nickevans-snakerescuer1973]

Thank you 🙏

[@randyangiro]

Are there alot of black mambas in Kenya especially the capital city Nairobi

[@LivingZoology]

Black mambas are abundant mostly in the eastern part of Kenya. There are no Black mambas in Nairobi as far as we know (or very rarely seen).

[@ooops372]

I wish Nick more revenue from whatever and only true calls where a venomous snake really has to be removed. And, most important, not to be bitten.

[@LivingZoology]

Thank you for watching! Great that you wish Nick all the best!

[@diskiloverscorner.7688]

Yoh Nick knows all our African supastitions regarding snakes 😝

[@LivingZoology]

Yes, he heard them all! 😀

[@helenlogan6481]

I watched a documentary a while ago & they said that snakes hate the smell of cinnamon & 2 sprinkle cinnamon along the ground by ur fence that snakes won’t enter ur property. Is this true?

[@LivingZoology]

Any repellents, chemicals or smelly things recomended for the avoidance of snakes don't work. Sad to hear that it was said in some documentary :/

[@eliotness5140]

​@@LivingZoologyA "National Geography" documentary for sure...

[@helenlogan6481]

@@eliotness5140 yes it was national geographic it was an episode on rattlesnakes

[@eliotness5140]

@@helenlogan6481 And they are unfortunately referents.......

[@tomquirin4231]

hi guys, PLEASE make a vid with tyrone ping and jason the snakeman arnold also , they are also my snake friends , also can you send me a list of all snake rescuer's in the south africa or durban area please , thanks > tom !

[@LivingZoology]

Maybe next time we visit South Africa! Thanks for watching!

[@AsadKhan-lm6yr]

You deserve to be paid by the government!!

[@glennhynes5263]

I am surprised that he gets no puff adders.

[@LivingZoology]

Durban does not have many open habitats which Puff adders prefer.

[@SelwynHendricks-g8u]

People a snake is a snake that's all

[@LivingZoology]

Yes, snakes are snakes, beautiful animals which have their role in nature.

[@cale115]

I couldn’t imagine trying to educate people in countries with low education rates coupled with a large population who still believes in witch doctors and legend heavily. It’s hard enough with highly educated populations who one would expect to attempt to logically analyze situations. Love snakes, and people,e are so irrational in the face of all the stats. One lie of an anecdote undoes the education of hundreds.

[@LivingZoology]

From what Nick told us it is really difficult to educate people who have strong beliefs from their culture. But he keeps trying, which is great!

[@DragerPilot]

Just think how many mambas you could have eliminated in all these years. Not only those that you turned loose, but those that lived to give birth to hundreds by now.

[@LivingZoology]

Mambas are a vital part of the environment. They are top predators of rats, kittens, dassies. If you eliminate snakes, rats will overpopulate out of control.

[@bobbybullets752]

Nice open toe sandals

[@LivingZoology]

Nick explains why he wears them.

[@BlueCyann]

Dude, what did that first guy do to personally offend the editors? Guy: I'm just going home with my groceries, man, why are you filming me. Voiceover: your fellow humans will KILL you.