Snake? Seek confirmation

"Jim Willsher" wrote ...

Quoted message said:

Whilst climbing Maol chean-dearg at the weekend we encountered a large
snake (near the bothy). Obviously we didn't stretch it across a tape
measure, but we estimate it was between 18 and 19 inches long. Can
anyone confirm if it was an adder? Picture available here

www.jimwillsher.eclipse.co.uk/Snake.jpg

Yes it was. Nice shot, lucky sighting.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London

"Jim Willsher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

Whilst climbing Maol chean-dearg at the weekend we encountered a large
snake (near the bothy). Obviously we didn't stretch it across a tape
measure, but we estimate it was between 18 and 19 inches long. Can
anyone confirm if it was an adder? Picture available here

www.jimwillsher.eclipse.co.uk/Snake.jpg

(459Kb)

Many thanks,

Jim

Almost certainly, they vary hugely in their colourings, take a look at this
one I seen just west of Linn of Dee a few weeks back, totally differant
coulouring but an adder just the same. like yours this was about 18"

http://www.stuartstuart.fsnet.co.uk/misc/carnealar/w5399.JPG

In article <[email hidden]>, Jim Willsher
said...

Quoted message said:

Can
anyone confirm if it was an adder? Picture available here

www.jimwillsher.eclipse.co.uk/Snake.jpg

Yup, that's an adder. The tell-tale markings are the zigzags down the
back.

--
/
Fran O(<|={
\

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the
wonderful person Jim Willsher <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

Whilst climbing Maol chean-dearg at the weekend we encountered a large
snake (near the bothy). Obviously we didn't stretch it across a tape
measure, but we estimate it was between 18 and 19 inches long. Can
anyone confirm if it was an adder? Picture available here

www.jimwillsher.eclipse.co.uk/Snake.jpg

Surely looks like one, although you're supposed to get it to bite you to
check for sure. Just kidding.

Can I recommend:

http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/reptiles/Vipera_berus/

as a pretty neat resource on UK wildlife in general, not just reptiles.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Contact recommends the use of Firefox; SC recommends it at gunpoint.

GSV Three Minds in a Can said:

Surely looks like one, although you're supposed to get it to bite you to
check for sure. Just kidding.

Adder bites are rarely fatal to humans (but don't let that stop you
getting treatment)but more dangerous for dogs.

http://www.allerthorpe.org.uk/pages/dogsandadders.htm

Foamie

foamie said:

Adder bites are rarely fatal to humans (but don't let that stop you
getting treatment)but more dangerous for dogs.

http://www.allerthorpe.org.uk/pages/dogsandadders.htm

"They are not naturally aggressive and will disappear fast if they
hear someone coming, but if an adder is taken by surprise it may bite
in self defence."

If I choose certain routes I can see Adders regularly. They love
sunbathing on sandy paths and appear almost comatose until you're
close. I have been within 1-2 footsteps of treading on them before
I've realised that they're there.

I believe that like most wildlife living near to humans, they're aware
of humans far more than humans are aware of them. This leads to
familiarity, which leads them not bothering about humans until they're
about to be stepped on, at which point I'd assume that they'd (not
unreasonably) make a defensive strike.

I read somewhere of a guy who got bitten who didn't take the
anti-venon jab and suffers periodic numbness at the area of the bite.
I've resigned myself to being bitten at some point - it'll hurt like
hell but it won't kill me, so it's just one of those things.

Daytona

Jim Willsher said:

Hi all,

Whilst climbing Maol chean-dearg at the weekend we encountered a large
snake (near the bothy). Obviously we didn't stretch it across a tape
measure, but we estimate it was between 18 and 19 inches long. Can
anyone confirm if it was an adder? Picture available here

Certainly a viper (=adder).

I thought there were none in the UK, or was it just no rabid ones?

Daytona said:

foamie said:

Adder bites are rarely fatal to humans (but don't let that stop you
getting treatment)but more dangerous for dogs.

http://www.allerthorpe.org.uk/pages/dogsandadders.htm

"They are not naturally aggressive and will disappear fast if they
hear someone coming, but if an adder is taken by surprise it may bite
in self defence."

If I choose certain routes I can see Adders regularly. They love
sunbathing on sandy paths and appear almost comatose until you're
close. I have been within 1-2 footsteps of treading on them before
I've realised that they're there.

I believe that like most wildlife living near to humans, they're aware
of humans far more than humans are aware of them. This leads to
familiarity, which leads them not bothering about humans until they're
about to be stepped on, at which point I'd assume that they'd (not
unreasonably) make a defensive strike.

I read somewhere of a guy who got bitten who didn't take the
anti-venon jab and suffers periodic numbness at the area of the bite.
I've resigned myself to being bitten at some point - it'll hurt like
hell but it won't kill me, so it's just one of those things.

Daytona

Hi,

My own experience with vipers (mostly in Italy, where they are probably
much more common) was such: On the average I would see at least one a day.
I never heard of anyone I knew being bitten (that was a fairly big
mountaineering/caving community).

Often I would carry a poison suction kit with me, but that was as much
for thorns & insect bites as for vipers.

The old saying is that, when walking in a line, the first person alarms
the viper, the second gets bitten and the third sees it all. I've been
told several times by the second or third person that I've walked over a
viper (wearing shorts & low socks) without any consequences.

To be honest, I'm much more worried about wasps & hornets than vipers,
who are very happy to be given a chance to get away.

A healthy adult (with a strong heart & no specific allergies) should
survive a viper bite, even without treatment. Often the bites are
"empty", either because the snake bit something shortly beforehand or
because poison isn't wasted on "defensive" bites. But still, it is not
something to take lightly. It is, however, extremely unlikely to happen.

Chris

Following up to Chris Loffredo

Quoted message said:

Can

Quoted message said:

anyone confirm if it was an adder? Picture available here

Certainly a viper (=adder).

I thought there were none in the UK, or was it just no rabid ones?

Its one of our native snakes. The only poisonous one IIRC.
--
Mike Reid
Wasdale-Thames path-London-Photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Eat-walk-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful person
Chris Loffredo <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

Jim Willsher said:

Hi all,
Whilst climbing Maol chean-dearg at the weekend we encountered a
large
snake (near the bothy). Obviously we didn't stretch it across a tape
measure, but we estimate it was between 18 and 19 inches long. Can
anyone confirm if it was an adder? Picture available here

Certainly a viper (=adder).

I thought there were none in the UK, or was it just no rabid ones?

It's Ireland that has no snakes - the UK has several (all listed and
illustrated on the website I pointed at earlier).

p.s. Afaik there =are= no rabid snakes, anywhere. Rabies is strictly a
warm blooded mammal type thing.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Contact recommends the use of Firefox; SC recommends it at gunpoint.

GSV Three Minds in a Can said:

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful person
Chris Loffredo <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

Jim Willsher said:

Hi all,
Whilst climbing Maol chean-dearg at the weekend we encountered a large
snake (near the bothy). Obviously we didn't stretch it across a tape
measure, but we estimate it was between 18 and 19 inches long. Can
anyone confirm if it was an adder? Picture available here

Certainly a viper (=adder).

I thought there were none in the UK, or was it just no rabid ones?

It's Ireland that has no snakes - the UK has several (all listed and
illustrated on the website I pointed at earlier).

p.s. Afaik there =are= no rabid snakes, anywhere. Rabies is strictly a
warm blooded mammal type thing.

I realise that; just being silly...
; )

GSV Three Minds in a Can said:

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful person
Chris Loffredo <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

Jim Willsher said:

Hi all,
Whilst climbing Maol chean-dearg at the weekend we encountered a large
snake (near the bothy). Obviously we didn't stretch it across a tape
measure, but we estimate it was between 18 and 19 inches long. Can
anyone confirm if it was an adder? Picture available here

Certainly a viper (=adder).

I thought there were none in the UK, or was it just no rabid ones?

It's Ireland that has no snakes - the UK has several (all listed and
illustrated on the website I pointed at earlier).

p.s. Afaik there =are= no rabid snakes, anywhere. Rabies is strictly a
warm blooded mammal type thing.

I realise that; just being silly...
; )

I do like the image of a mad, foaming at the mouth viper giving chase!

In article <[email hidden]>, Chris Loffredo said...

Quoted message said:

Jim Willsher said:

Hi all,

Whilst climbing Maol chean-dearg at the weekend we encountered a large
snake (near the bothy). Obviously we didn't stretch it across a tape
measure, but we estimate it was between 18 and 19 inches long. Can
anyone confirm if it was an adder? Picture available here

Certainly a viper (=adder).

I thought there were none in the UK, or was it just no rabid ones?

We've got plenty of adders and grass snakes, but not much else.
--
/
Fran O(<|={
\

Fran said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Chris Loffredo said...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Certainly a viper (=adder).

I thought there were none in the UK, or was it just no rabid ones?

We've got plenty of adders and grass snakes, but not much else.

Yes, just a few smooth snakes in Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey. The
slow worm, which is a legless lizard, is far more common; perhaps
being the most commonly seen reptile in Britain.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Chris Loffredo said:

I've been
told several times by the second or third person that I've walked over a
viper (wearing shorts & low socks) without any consequences.

Quoted message said:

It [being bitten] is, however, extremely unlikely to happen.

Interesting stuff, but those are the bits I have trouble reconciling.

The trouble is that you're completely reliant on the good nature of
the viper. That's not a situation that I'm particularly comfortable
with.

It's strange that they don't appear to regard being stepped over as an
aggressive act given their power to do harm.

Do poison suction kits work ?

Daytona

In article <[email hidden]>, Phil Cook
said...

Quoted message said:

Fran said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Chris Loffredo said...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Certainly a viper (=adder).

I thought there were none in the UK, or was it just no rabid ones?

We've got plenty of adders and grass snakes, but not much else.

Yes, just a few smooth snakes in Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey. The
slow worm, which is a legless lizard,

and often mistaken for a snake (poor thing, it wouldn't hurt a fly -
much)

Quoted message said:

is far more common; perhaps
being the most commonly seen reptile in Britain.

Which doesn't mean it's common. I've only ever seen two or three in
the wild, and I've yet to encounter my first UK snake.
--
/
Fran O(<|={
\

Following up to Fran

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is far more common; perhaps
being the most commonly seen reptile in Britain.

Which doesn't mean it's common. I've only ever seen two or three in
the wild, and I've yet to encounter my first UK snake.

they are there, but they keep out of the way. My best sighting
was of either a dispute or mating ritual, two, partly up on end,
wrapping round each other, at Pagham Harbour, they ignored me.
Ive seen a few on Surrey heaths on cool summer days when they are
lethargic.
I once had to explain to some French girls sitting on the cliffs
in Cornwall (Nanjizal Bay) that there was a snake in the grass
next to them and they might like to move. They did!
--
Mike Reid
UK Walking "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Eat-walk-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap
Photos "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"<-- you can email us@ this 1 2

In article <[email hidden]>, The Reids
said...

Quoted message said:

I once had to explain to some French girls sitting on the cliffs
in Cornwall (Nanjizal Bay) that there was a snake in the grass
next to them and they might like to move. They did!

*Chuckle* I'll bet they did!
--
/
Fran O(<|={
\

Daytona said:

Chris Loffredo said:

I've been
told several times by the second or third person that I've walked over a
viper (wearing shorts & low socks) without any consequences.

Quoted message said:

It [being bitten] is, however, extremely unlikely to happen.

Interesting stuff, but those are the bits I have trouble reconciling.

The trouble is that you're completely reliant on the good nature of
the viper. That's not a situation that I'm particularly comfortable
with.

It's strange that they don't appear to regard being stepped over as an
aggressive act given their power to do harm.

The "problem" with vipers is that they are often very lethargic. They
frequently don't notice (or don't react to) your approach until you're
literally on top of them, and then they may or may not summon up the
energy to bite.

They are basically shy and it doesn't make sense for them to attack a
creature so much bigger than they are unless there really is no choice.

Consider also, their bite is a bit like someone tossing a hypodermic
syringe at you. It problably won't make it (at least effectively)
through medium weight cloth. You are really only vulnerable when wearing
shorts. Unless you are very unlucky and encounter one on a ledge while
climbing or something.

Quoted message said:

Do poison suction kits work ?

I'd certainly say yes. If you can get all the poison out (assuming some
was actually injected) before it spreads, then nothing bad can happen.
In any case you'll probably get most out.

To put things in perspective: I don't have any actual figures and I hope
I'm not grossly misrepresenting things, but the number of people bitten
by vipers throughout Europe is somewhere on the order of a few dozen a
year. The deaths from those can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Ticks are probably much more dangerous.

Wasps & hornets account for hundreds of times more deaths.

Road accidents (you do often drive to get to hills & mountains) claims
tens of thousands times more lives a year.

I sometimes carry a poison suction kit because it is useful for other
things as well (other insect bites, thorns, ect.), but the danger from
vipers shouldn't be exaggerated.

The best thing is just to keep your eyes open and train your mind to
automatically recognise "snake". That way you also won't trample the
poor things.

Chris