Puff Adder Bites Woman on Foot in Hartenbos as Snake Season Begins

• A puff adder bit a woman on the foot in Hartenbos, prompting a local snake rescue group to issue urgent safety tips
• Slangboere warned holiday-makers that December and January are the busiest months for snake activity in the Mossel Bay area
• South Africans online debated how to handle snake encounters, with strong opinions on killing versus catching

A woman was bitten on the foot by a puff adder in Hartenbos, Western Cape on 21 August 2026. It prompted a local snake rescue organisation to issue a public warning ahead of the busy summer holiday season.

Slangboere, a snake rescue group serving the Mossel Bay area, shared the incident on Facebook alongside a list of safety tips for residents and visitors. The group described December and January as their busiest months for snake activity. They urged people to take precautions before the coastal town fills up with holiday-makers.

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Slangboere listed several practical steps to reduce the risk of a bite. These included using a torch when walking at night, avoiding the pine forest while intoxicated, and keeping the group's emergency number (+27 76 781 0528) on hand. Parents were advised to warn their children that snakes may be present in play areas.

The group also stressed that people should never attempt to kill a snake, as this is one of the most common causes of bites each year. Instead, they encouraged anyone who encounters one to stay calm and contact a professional. Slangboere wrote in the post.

"We are there to keep everything safe for snakes and humans."

See the original Slangboere warning post on Facebook:

Mzansi reacts to snake bite Warning

The post stirred lively debate in the comments:

Mandy Rode-Weber said:

"Dead snake is the only snake."

Van Zyl Angela replied:

"Mandy Rode-Weber, deliberate ignorance does not save lives."

Siemon Morgan wrote:

"Stay calm? With my blood type I would not even make it to the hospital!!!!"

Kevin Damon's shared:

"I shoot them with the pellet gun, but we get a lot of cape cobras and puff, but the cape cobras feed on the puff adder."

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Helen Goldberg Greenacre asked about the victim before sharing a remarkable story:

"Is she okay? My client's personal assistant went to pick lavender in Stellenbosch, drove home to Cape Town, went to make tea in the middle of the night and saw something moving in the lounge. There was a Mossel Bay puff adder in her handbag. The whole day. In the car. Over her shoulder. She had put her hand inside to get her phone. It went with her all the way to Cape Town. Can you believe this?"

Other Briefly News stories about snakes

• A harrowing incident involving two children in KwaZulu-Natal who were bitten by a venomous snake sparked widespread concern across South Africa.
• Details about the tragic incident involving a South African woman who died following a Cape cobra bite, as discussed by the snake awareness page Slangboere.
• Samantha C's remarkable encounter with one of the largest black mambas she has ever seen showcased the impressive skills of seasoned snake catcher Neville Wolmarans.

Source: Briefly News