Please help identify this beauty

[fredcctv]

Good Day
I found this snake near my house in bothasig cape town
I think it is a mole snake but am not sure , please help me identify for future reference

Thank you

[fredcctv]

2014-10-04 17.05.17 resized.jpg

[fredcctv]

maybe better pic

[Westley Price]

Yup, you have the ID correct.

They are nice snakes to have around the home because they control rodents very effectively and they're completely harmless.

Cheers

[Durban Keeper]

They certainly are not venomous, but completely harmless is not entirely true as anyone who has taken an bite from an adult mole snake will attest. The bite from this snake, all be it non venomous can still be quite severe.

[Ales]

Adding on to what Durban Keeper said, do not pick this snake up even though it isn't venomous. Treat it as if it's a venomous snake. It's teeth can do damage.

[reptile]

Agree with Ales, but the damage is not life threatening. The bite might require stitches, that's all.

[Cois01]

Agree with the guys, and even if you think it is a mole snake don't pick it up as you might just assume it is a mole snake and turns out it's a capie. Point is don't just try and catch every snake you come across if you don't have the experience or the confidence in identifying a snake. Not that I am endorsing capturing of wild snakes but in my case I am based in Gordon's Bay and I have two young boys so if there is a boomer or puffie in the garden I will catch and release in the koggel bay nature reserve or helderberg nature reserve where they will be safe if need be, sometimes I would just let my boys look at how beautiful they are when they pass in the garden.

[Chopper 1]

Agree with Ales, but the damage is not life threatening. The bite might require stitches, that's all.

Stiches on very rare occasions and should not be seen as a negative thing towards mole snakes. I have been bitten by them at least 20 times (large adults not babies) and have never had to get stitches - maybe i am just thick skinned!!