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New research from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, has revealed that puff adder (Bitis arietans) can be highly efficient at controlling rodent populations that threaten agricultural production on the continent.
Puff adders can increase their food consumption by more than 12 times above their maintenance levels when rodent populations surge—far outperforming traditional mammalian predators and offering a natural solution to devastating rodent pest problems.
“Puff adders are essentially nature’s perfect rodent control system,” says Professor Graham Alexander, who conducted the study. “Their ability to dramatically increase consumption during rodent outbreaks makes them invaluable allies for farmers facing potential crop devastation.”
Published in Scientific Reports, the study shows that an individual puff adder can consume up to 10 rodents in a single feeding session. They are ready to feed again just a week later, providing continuous pest management with zero cost to farmers.
“By protecting these natural controllers, we can harness their remarkable abilities to support both ecosystem health and agricultural productivity across Africa. This also highlights the need to have snakes included in conservation management plans.”
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