| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| hiper2009 |
Posted - 04/03/2010 : 15:55:31
I was walking the dog on country park this morning where i saw a wild snake it was black and white like a zig zag pattern it was not a corn or king snake and then some women who was walking her dogs said to me its an adder snake with mild toxic venom enough for it to kill some thing small. I had no idea we had wild venomous snakes here in the UK.  |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Mouse |
Posted - 16/03/2010 : 08:19:59
@ Mike - I'm not allergic to bees etc, It was very itchy. To be honest I was concentrating. *mumbles* I may have been asked to cut my mates front lawn before his parents got home, and he had forgotten to do it, but the lawn mower broke, so I was doing it with nail scissors......in my defense it looked awesome when I was finished.....:S...
@Sammysnake - Worthing! :D Origionally Goring, but we were in Charmandean (by the golf course) when the baby adder turned up.
@Sta~ple - What bites do grass snakes have, and do they itch like mad after?
|
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 15/03/2010 : 17:47:56
Yes we done have only the one dangerous snake but I should think it would rather slither away than attack someone. It is more likely to go for small animals such as dogs, cats and maybe children as they are more likely to keep on pestering it. Grass snakes aer more likely to get you. I sometimes see them swimming in the river near our house :3
I wish rhino rat snakes lived in England >.< |
| Sammysnake |
Posted - 15/03/2010 : 16:28:48
quote:
I grew up bewtween the sea front and the south downs
Whereabouts Mouse? I'm a Brighton girl originally. |
| mikerichards |
Posted - 15/03/2010 : 16:19:44
As said, there are no other indigenous venomous snakes, so most likely! Did you not notice the bite? when i was bitten it was hard not to notice!
Most of the time an adder bite is not much to worry about, more of an inconvenience, but others it can have a very profound and quick effect. Generally speaking, if you are allergic (anaphalactic shock) to wasp and bee stings, then you have a high chance of being allergic to adders. |
| Mouse |
Posted - 15/03/2010 : 14:36:20
Well, In assumed it was an adder, as it was deffo a snake bite, and I didn't think the other snakes we have a re venemous (looking on here, they aren't), so unless it was an escapee, as it was fangy rather than a row of teeth (like what I've seen of a corns). Up for suggestions! |
| mikerichards |
Posted - 10/03/2010 : 19:36:40
lightly bitten? lol.
yeah i still go looking in the summer, when the weathers a bit nicer. I dont tend to keep any though, just go to see what we can find!
Further to my post, the females are the copper colour as above and the males are very striking silver with black zig zag, males get to about 3 foot, whereas females generally 2.5 and stocky. |
| Mouse |
Posted - 10/03/2010 : 16:30:28
I grew up bewtween the sea front and the south downs, and we used to have loads of adders round our area, I once saw a baby adder in the housing estate a mate lived on, and I was going to put it in a pillowcase and release it back onto the downs, but my mate wouldnt lend me a pillow case!
They are gorgeous!
I was lightly bitten by one when I was in the garden some years ago, my ankle swelled up and is to this day more swollen than the other, but I didn't notice until that evening, as it wasn't painful, and just assumed it was a sting or something, as it didn't hurt. It just itched.
My mates king charles got bitten by one a few months back, and it's entire side swelled up to the size of a beach ball, he was very ill. :(
|
| hiper2009 |
Posted - 10/03/2010 : 15:31:38
mikerichards , Great essay do you still go looking for wild snakes ? |
| matty18714 |
Posted - 09/03/2010 : 15:18:17
Well said. |
| mikerichards |
Posted - 09/03/2010 : 11:51:59
As said, there are 3 native snakes, the smooth snake, grass snake and the adder.
The adder, as with most vipers, has a haemotoxic venom, it causes massive tissue damage, internal haemorraging, muscle tissue is destroyed and in nearly all cases death is caused by massive internal bleeding.
If you believe that the bite is not dangerous then you will get a nasty and painful shock!
Although its not as strong as a rattler for example, its still plenty to do some serious damage, and can cause severe scarring. There have been very few deaths recently, and most of those who did die, died from anaphalactic shock, from being allergic to the venom. Adders are incredibly dangerous to you children and the elderly, as their bodies are not 100% capable of counteracting the effects. Normal adults have a much better chance of survival, but that's not guaranteed, you must seek medical advice.
I did a lot of research into various venoms years ago, and from then, the last recorded death was nearly 100 years ago, and the person didn't seek medical help and died almost 48 hours later.
I was bitten about 10 years ago, the snake was about 4 inches long, female.
It got me on the end of my finger, it felt like I was stabbed by a hot needle, totally different kind of bite, it hurts!
As soon as I was bitten the end of my finger went red and started to swell, from there my entire finger ballooned, then my hand started to swell, all within an hour, by which time I was at the hospital. When the venom starts to do its job, ie breaking down the tissue, it feels like burning, its most unpleasant! I would take being tagged by my big boa any day over that!
I still go looking for them, and still find them, but I am far more respectful of their capabilities now. One thing worth noting is that they are not overly agressive snakes, they are surprisingly placid, even when handled, corner one though, and you know all about it!
The one I found last year went to live with a friend for a couple of months before being released, again, suprisingly, she fed on defrost within a couple of days, impressive to watch them walk the food with their fangs!
I will point out that its not illegal to capture and keep captive, if you have a dwa license, it however illegal to trade with them, unless they are captive bred.
A baby adder is capable of giving a nasty painful bite, an adult, well that's gonna really ruin your day! Don't mess with them if you don't know what your doing, if you are allergic then you will get about 20 feet before collapsing, and that will kill you! |
| hiper2009 |
Posted - 09/03/2010 : 00:03:41
quote:
Originally posted by Flatpack63
If you are out without a camera, most phones have a camera on now.
But by the time you are fiddling around with the camera on the phone the snake would have shot off by then.  |
| Flatpack63 |
Posted - 09/03/2010 : 00:01:52
If you are out without a camera, most phones have a camera on now. |
| Fal |
Posted - 08/03/2010 : 21:48:13
Great pics Kellog! We used to see lizards on the dand dune nature reserve here at Blackpool (well, St.Annes) when I was little, not seen them for years but I heard they are still there, just rarer! Not sure if common or sand, think common but my dad said he had seen sand lizards when little and, like your photo shows, they are gorgeous! |
| Jennet |
Posted - 06/03/2010 : 20:18:52
I was lucky enough to see an adder in November last year when walking our dogs in local countryside. We have a couple of spots round here where they are known to live, but have never seen one that late in the year before.
Not normally lucky enough to see much, as dogs go crashing ahead of me, but I was close to a hedge and it was just out of the bottom of one, in a sunny spot. Never even normally bother to take my phone with me, let alone a camera... probably, by the time I had fumbled it out of wherever I could stash it, poor thing would get fed up and rumble off anyway!
|
| hiper2009 |
Posted - 06/03/2010 : 19:30:45
bengy_s Thanks for answering my questions that about sums up everything. |
| n/a |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 23:49:51
I was doing some research when i got home after spotting this Adder and was on some website and it said that the black and white adders are males and the darker ones are females don't know if this is true but i wish i had my camera it was an amazing thing to see.
Yes the females tend to be darker.
As matty said as it probly just came out of brumation and this thing was quite big and i could clearly see he had ate something large possibly a bird or a rat as it had a huge bump.
You were even luckier IMO to see one after a feed! And to an extent this time of year, though they can be found basking on a warm day (been nice here in the SW past few days). You probably saw a male as the females normally brumate for a few weeks longer than males. Though it is the time of year for them to come out of brumation as Matty said.
I was wondering how can Adders survive in UK with our weather being cold don't they need heat or can these's Adders survive in cold weather ?
I think I read somewhere a while ago that they use deserted rabbit burrows or rodent burrow (the latter with the adder making it deserted!) Although it will be colder, the "underground" temperature actually only fluctuates by a few degrees from summer to winter (hence underground heating). They will also take the opportunity of a hot day to bask, even in winter.
I herd smoothe snakes are extreamly rare but i doubt i would ever see one are these's venomous as well ?
No they aren't venomous, same as grass snakes.
Will there be more coming out now ? Yes is the short answer. But as you saw one with the weather still reaching minus temperatures in some areas; chances are that his burrow or hibernating spot was very close by Or will i have to wait until the summer , Also i was thinking to my self that was a rare spotage for me to see this Adder as snakes only come out at night right or do Adders come out of there hiding place during any time of day and night on hunt for food.? Not really. Adders will be more visible in the day as they will come out to bask (although sun bathing isn't very "active"!) though they are not strictly nocturnal nor diurnal as far as I'm aware, so it is possible for day or night sightings- though as said; its possibly easier in day.
I hope to see more in the future and will now prepare my self with a camera while walking the dog on the country park !! Good stuff. Though, as per my last post, its sod's law they won't be out for you if you're prepared with a camera! |
| hiper2009 |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 15:24:05
I was doing some research when i got home after spotting this Adder and was on some website and it said that the black and white adders are males and the darker ones are females don't know if this is true but i wish i had my camera it was an amazing thing to see.
As matty said as it probly just came out of brumation and this thing was quite big and i could clearly see he had ate something large possibly a bird or a rat as it had a huge bump.
I was wondering how can Adders survive in UK with our weather being cold don't they need heat or can these's Adders survive in cold weather ?
I herd smoothe snakes are extreamly rare but i doubt i would ever see one are these's venomous as well ?
Will there be more coming out now ? Or will i have to wait until the summer , Also i was thinking to my self that was a rare spotage for me to see this Adder as snakes only come out at night right or do Adders come out of there hiding place during any time of day and night on hunt for food.?
I hope to see more in the future and will now prepare my self with a camera while walking the dog on the country park !!. |
| n/a |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 13:20:40
Great pics Kellog.
Living in Dorset since birth (Lyme Regis) I have seen quite a few adders. Our family dog (now since died- old age not adder!) used to stop and bark in front of any animal, usually a hedgehog or a squirrel in a tree. But a few times we would go to a national trust park at the top of Lyme (which is slowly slipping) and we'd come across Adders. All have been on hot days in the summer. They are very pretty and their mere presence commands your respect! My Dad once picked one up with a big stick as it was on the footpath just about to join the road! It didn't strike him though! I don't think they are that vicious, they prefer to avoid confrontation unless its prey. Obviously if it were antagonised by someone (or a barking dog!) or stepped on by someone by accident they would bite. To my knowledge no one has died from a bite for over 20 years (pub ammo) but I could be wrong. They can kill but as mentioned there is rarely any venom injected other than what secretes from the fangs from previous encounters (trace) or (as Kehhlyr said) full glands.
Been bit by a grass snake! I was only about 10 and my elderly next-door neighbour asked me to "pick that long slow worm off my path please Ben?" Of course I did and WHAM! I was a brave little solider and returned it to her back hedging and shrubs before running home crying!
Got a few adder pictures on my mobile (got an SLR but EVERY time I took it to take pictures of one, we never saw them!)
As Matty said you need a licence to keep an adder and they can in fact be very poor feeders so I would question why anyone would want one (though the idea of a pet adder is cool!). Grass snakes can be kept as pets but only by someone with a good knowledge of them as they have quite a varied and specialised diet (from fish to birds eggs to toads). The only other British native snake the Smooth Snake is protected as I remember (Wildlife & Countryside Act???) and cannot be kept as a pet. If you are lucky enough to see one take a load of photos- they are rare! |
| Kellog |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 05:00:55
Think I may have shared these pics a while ago in a post BTD did with some amazing pics he took of slow-worms, but thought it worthwhile dragging them out again.
Adder
Grass snake swimming - you can even see the underbelly scales under the water
Other Native Species:
Slow Worm
Sand Lizard - I think
Common frogs - doing what comes naturally 
Common Lizard - I think
Am almost sure this is a green lizard, but correct me if I am wrong -please!
Palmate Newt (from our garden pond)
(sorry, I went slightly overboard with the pics and totally off the topic of adders!! But our native species are so special and overlooked too easily...and so hard to find!!)
xxx |
| Nazzle |
Posted - 04/03/2010 : 22:20:00
I had the first look of the year under our snake havens on the nature reserve at work (the first siting of the year of an adder on Thorne and Hatfield Moors were seen this week. No luck, although there were tracks and I did see a common lizard. I'm going to be checking once a fortnight from now on, with camera ready, so I'll hopefully have something to report (if we have put the havens in the right place). |
|
|
