elkrout2007 Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Are there any poisinous snakes in the U K I have never saw any mention of them ELK2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Only one and its the adder (Vipera berus) is Britain’s only poisonous snake but will very rarely attack. Their usual approach is to use its exceptional camouflage to avoid being spotted or to disappear into the bushes and undergrowth at speed if they feel the vibrations of a threat approaching. While the adder is thought to have claimed the lives of around 10 people within the last 100 years or so, modern knowledge about snake bites and good access to medical care have greatly reduced the threat they pose to life. Only those that are susceptible to anaphylactic shock are a major risk. The venom is actually quite strong but the adder does not inject much at any one time so there is less risk than from other venomous snakes that will strike repeatedly or inject more in one go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustyfox Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 The only one is an Adder but if your strong and healthy youll be ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traztaz Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 Whilst walking along the Fleet canal one day I stood on one of these by accident once!!A big hiss from the snake , a girl like squeel and a meter bounce in the air from me and away he went! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 I came accross an Adder in the rough on Orsett golf course whilst looking for one of many lost balls. Came right up on it (within a couple of inches). Lovely chequerboard markings. **** myself and ran off screeming like a girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 watched a friend get bitten on the ***, as i was too frightened to say anything he was answering the call of nature, and as we were being funny taking a pic of him, he then started screeming , yet most of us had seen the snake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundodger Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 watched a friend get bitten on the ***, as i was too frightened to say anything he was answering the call of nature, and as we were being funny taking a pic of him, he then started screeming , yet most of us had seen the snake. would loved to see that. poor snake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundowner Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 watched a friend get bitten on the ***, as i was too frightened to say anything he was answering the call of nature, and as we were being funny taking a pic of him, he then started screeming , yet most of us had seen the snake. Did the snake survive ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harv Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 my black lab aged 10 months at the time was bit by an adder last year when training thru some bracken, i absolutely papped myself rushing home to get to the vets but no ill effects were seen in the lab, and after a couple of calls was told the adder probably struck a warning bite first without releasing any venom...phew, it did swell however. the good thing was the dog turned but didnt see it otherwise it probably would have got the second strike right on its nose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 watched a friend get bitten on the ***, as i was too frightened to say anything he was answering the call of nature, and as we were being funny taking a pic of him, he then started screeming , yet most of us had seen the snake. Did the snake survive ? hhahahaha, funny enough, the snake was fine we had never seen one in the wild before, so we were a bit taken back by it thinking it was a cobra or something :( :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuck1 Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 We get them local to us, they seem to range in size from worm sized to about a foot, with a lot of colour variation. Some are almost black, and I have seen some "pink" coloured ones. Mostly they are just the bog standard zig zag ones. The dogs never seem to learn, and always go poking their nose in to have a look, but so far, fingers crossed, I haven't had one bitten. One of the local keepers got bitten many years ago when he put hos hand out to a tussock of heather. It swelled up and was painful, but nothing more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustyfox Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 There are loads in Galloway forest you see em alot basking in the sun on rocks and boulders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundowner Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 I came across one of them end of autumn last year picking mushrooms, put my daughter on the car roof ( she is 4 ) and showed her the adder and gave her the talk about NOT going near one of those ! Fortunately, the mutt was safely in the car too ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted April 12, 2008 Report Share Posted April 12, 2008 I used to see them regularly when I lived in Kent, they would get out in the sun on South-facing banks. Nearly trod on a few when I was tramping around Since I moved oop norf, I've only seen one or two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted April 12, 2008 Report Share Posted April 12, 2008 There used to be an adder at a job I used to do. He (probably she actually) was at a guess 2 feet long, and very fat. It lived in an old greenhouse, so I used to get really close to it and take a look. I've managed to get my head within a couple of feet of it because it was the other side of the glass. I remember it being very hard to get close to. Supposedly they're very sensitive to vibration? I'm also told 2 feet is big for an adder? There were several in the area, but this one was by far the biggest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEAD SHOT Posted April 12, 2008 Report Share Posted April 12, 2008 Interesting comments. I also have seen many on the moors in the NE, particularly in the summer basking in the sun. They are very shy creatures that would rather slither away from any trouble. I often wondered what the effects of a bit would be or a dog getting it. Can you imagine what the local hosital would say or know what to do with an adder bite. Hmmmm. Never the less a wonderful sight to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsmyth Posted April 13, 2008 Report Share Posted April 13, 2008 Pick mushrooms How did it do that !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Pick mushrooms How did it do that !! I expect they were probably toadstools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 None here in Ireland, St Patrick killed them all.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretman Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 when ilived at southend were my dad works there ways 100s of them and a few nests were thay always stoped.i ran every time i seen 1 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salisburykeeper Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Adder bites dont really do anything to you, ive been bitten by them a few times and the worst I have had from an adder bite was a flu like feeling for about an hour. If you are fit and strong you wont have any problems and their mouths are so small they can only bite onto certain areas like fingertips They certainly arent anything to worry about, 9 times out of 10 they will be gone as soon as you get near them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Loads of 'em in my neck of the woods - There's actually a agted and fenced off preservation area near Tilbury where they are trying to get the numbers up They like to lurk in the long grass and are very jumpy and will bite, although more from fear than actual aggression i think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDFrain Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 the only snake i have seen in the North East, is my ex wife OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDFrain Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 the only snake i have seen in the North East, is my ex wife OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretman Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Loads of 'em in my neck of the woods - There's actually a agted and fenced off preservation area near Tilbury where they are trying to get the numbers up They like to lurk in the long grass and are very jumpy and will bite, although more from fear than actual aggression i thinki no wot you mean i seen loads when i lived down southend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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