cubix Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I spend a lot of my time in typical adder country, but have only ever see one once, when I was fishing up on the Reed near Otterburn years ago. Defo an adder, not grass snake or smooth snake. The one I saw was curled up sunbathing and slithered off when I got within ten feet of it - it was beautiful but i'm well scared of snakes and the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up even as I type this. I'd never hurt one, but they give me the willies. Here's a thing - I calmly estimated it at 5-6 feet long! later research showed they grow to a max of 2 feet and people always view them as huge in the heat of the moment. I know they are shy - who's ever seen one ? Visit http://www.adder.org.uk/ for more info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2shots Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 We were fishing the rocks at fontburn res when my mate started screaming there was an adder crawling over his wellies,and your right it looked massive we had been sitting on the rocks for 2-3 hours but sharp moved after this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Never in the flesh, although my shooting buddy in the lakes "Chessy" has been bitten by one, showed me the marks etc. We have gone looking in the area where he was bit for a few years, to see if we can find any Adders, but never any luck. However, he was a youth when bitten, and he is now 60, although farming practices have changed little on the farm. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Seen one when i was a kid,funnily enough at otterburn.It was on the road and i thought it was a stick so i kicked it(as you do when your 10)when it stopped rolling it started a slivering and i stupidly picked it up I carried it around for about 20 mins holding it behind its head,until....until....it turned its head a bit and sunk its teeth into my thumb .It may have been a small snake but it bloody hurt and i had to go to hospital with a cartoon thumb(big and red and throbbing)I have never seen one since and dont particularly want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinbum71 Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 There are some dunes at Gwithian near here that are positively crawling with them. Find a south facing concrete base (loads left from previous industry) in the morning and Voila! Adder heaven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I've seen loads! The closest I've ever been to one is at an old job of mine, and it used to curl up in the greenhouse. I was on one side of the grass, it was the other. Probably no more than a foot away! To spot them, you need to be extremely quiet. They will do anything to avoid contact with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Friend of mines dog was bitten by one and it cost him a fortune in vets bills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Nearly stepped on one whilst running on Aldershot trg area . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I used to see loads when I lived in Kent (nearly 20 years ago). I used to see them sunbathing on South-facing grass banks on the Downs and off Stone Street, round Stelling Minnis and Petham Seen a few in Hampshire too - in the New Forest. Only seen one oop North, at Risley Moss near Warrington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popgun Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 There are loads of them on the heaths here in dorset and smooth snakes sand lizards and natterjack toads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenntay Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 i got invited to a pond last year carp fishing in the lakes and saw loads of the bloody things early morning curled up sunning themselves "just looked like dog **** " at one piont 2swam past the end of my rod spent more time looking around me than at the rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I used to see hundreds, first alive then dead as I chopped them with the spade. Why? Because the fields were "alive" with them right where we kept our cows. One bite from an adder to a cow is very bad and expensive news!!!!There were next all over the place on our sandy fields. i do admire their very pretty and amazing variety of colours. This was years ago .... I bet they are protected now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 there are loads at one of my lakes, been bitten twice, once wasnt my fault, i sat on it, the other one was...i was handling it. I rescued one from a weasle and nursed it back to health before releasing it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 (edited) There are some dunes at Gwithian near here that are positively crawling with them. Find a south facing concrete base (loads left from previous industry) in the morning and Voila! Adder heaven. Would that be the block works mate? Saw a few over St Just and Pendeen way when I was a kid Edited June 15, 2008 by Dave-G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Never seen one sadly. Seen a big Brown Snake near the beach at Adelaide Australia. It was curled up under a sign saying "Beware the Snakes".We then swam on the beach after a trainer was found with a guys foot in it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Having spent most of my life fishing disused and overgrown chalk pits (superb adder habitat), I have been fortunate to have seen loads of them. Most were sunning themselves and disappear as soon as they are disturbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
double barrel Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Ive never seen one, but since the subject has come up there was an article in the paper just a few days ago, apparently the golf course in Galashiels is crawling with them, causing a problem for golfers, so now I know why ive never seen one, I dont play golf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2shots Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Something that might interest not an adder but? A few month ago up here a guy was walking his 2yr old daughter along a disused railway track 50yds from my house and found a reticulated python that someone had dumped the police got a rescue centre to come and get it and found another one still in a pillow case the first one was 11ft long and as thick as your calf the guy who came for them said in the newspaper that they ate 4 rabbits between them when he got them home and to imagine if it had got a hold of his daughter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarpa Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I saw a beautiful female with a striking reddish colouration many years ago. I had a good look at her, used a small stick to lift her slightly, then watched as she slithered off. I was part of a reptile and amphibian wildlife group and I also specialised as a reptile biologist in the past so have a deep love of the scaly little critters. Another time I was gearing up for a rock climb at Tremadog and a grass snake fell on me from the slab above, I managed to catch it mid-air and very quickly put it down as I didn't know it wasn't an adder until I saw it clearly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evilv Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 (edited) I've seen lots in Northumberland especially around Thrunton Woods which is not far from Rothbury. That whole area has lots of them in summer, though they generally slip away when they sense the vibrations of people coming. I've seen them a few times even in March on a warm day, just lying sunbathing. At that time of year, they are pretty slow and don't try to escape when you approach, but they can still strike and bite if you mess with them, so don't do it. I saw a skin last year and a moment later spotted the snake that had shed it curled up by a rock in the sunshine. My Border Terrier was bitten by one at Thrunton while charging about in the heather. She was well knackered and wouldn't walk - just stood still, quivering and hanging her head so I had to carry her back to the car and get her seen by a vet. Her shoulder was very swollen. She recovered quite well after anti inflamatories were given. She seemed much happier within about two hours of treatment. The fiercest adder I ever saw was a tiny baby one about the length and thickness of a pencil. I was with my kids walking near Rothbury and it was lying in the middle of a forest road. When we gathered around it at a distance of about a yard, this little thing reared up like some kind of monster and hissed with its mouth gaping wide and it struck out in all directions like a whirling dirvish. We were well intimidated and cleared off. Edited June 15, 2008 by Evilv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ91 Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 iv seen loads of them on stencil range's and training area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SecretFollower Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 I've only seen them in Italy, just sunbathing. Never seen them over here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 Holyhead mountain is crawling with them, or should i say slithering with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 Loads of them this area usually basking on the South facing the sea wall, never heard of any people or dogs being bitten yet though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretman Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 (edited) when i lived down southend we used to see loads every year near the sea wall. Edited June 16, 2008 by ferretman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.