First adder at last

[Wozza]

I have read that they don't normally come out before about 7, so maybe you could have bit of a lay-in next time?!

[naturegirl]

We have a colony of black adders at Wye downs in Kent. An adder bit a silly man who was putting his hand/arm over a hill first in Folkestone, Kent in recent times. It put him in hospital for several days. I'm sure he won't do that again soon!
Naturegirl

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by naturegirl

We have a colony of black adders at Wye downs in Kent. An adder bit a silly man who was putting his hand/arm over a hill first in Folkestone, Kent in recent times. It put him in hospital for several days. I'm sure he won't do that again soon!
Naturegirl

He must have had a severe reaction, for most people (adult, healthy) the reaction is not very serious. I spoke to my GP about this and was told they had stocks of anti-venon, I was given to understand that this is ineffective. Any one know? I wasn't just going along to moither her, I had to see her anyway and was just starting a survey that involved a lot of wandering through high heather and Turks heads in an area known for Adders.

[Wozza]

Hey naturegirl, I live in Kent too how often do you go Adder hunting?

[naturegirl]

Talking of spiders.......
I took my specimen of Steatoda nobillis along to my Doctor's surgery to see if any of the Docs wanted to see a newly resident poisenous spider specimen of what may bite their patients in the near future only to be told in a frosty voice by 'The receptionist'... that 'it would not be of interest to the Doctors' !!!!!!!....... Get you dearie!!!
Naturegirl

[armata]

The adder (Vipera berus) does not strike like a cobra, a cobra strikes from a reared position with a spread hood.
There are differences between defensive and predatory strikes. Defensive strikes may extend to a third of the body, a predatory strike is usually just two or three head lengths (They are ambush, sit & wait predators mainly)

A little note on the venom. In recent years there have been some serious bites, including two near fatalities, so please do not understimate the bite.
Having said that adders are calm peaceful creatures and will just slide out of sight if allowed to do so.

[NickCantle]

In fact I do believe that Channel 4 television presenter Paul O'Grady was bitten by an adder very recently.

[demicav]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

In fact I do believe that Channel 4 television presenter Paul O'Grady was bitten by an adder very recently.

I saw this in the paper. It annoys me though that they make the Adder out to be some evil beast that's out to bite people. It gives people the wrong impression of the situation. I've spent so much time around them I can honestly say they're not aggressive at all and much prefer to stay out of the way. That said though they will obviously defend themselves if they feel you're a threat which is probably what happened to Paul o Grady. I believe he disturbed a log pile in his garden and the Adder had presumably gone in there to snuggle down. Glad he's ok though.