Anyone had a smooth/grass snake bite before?

[wellies101]

Anyone had one? Just curious to find out what they feel like, don't worry, I'm not going looking for one!

I ask because I'm surveying this summer in hope of obtaining my licence from natural england. The only thing I need to handle are smoothies (my current licence covers this) to be able to identify individuals and get an idea of range, age, etc. etc. I know they can bite, but wanted to know how much it hurts, if at all?

Should imagine its more shock than pain?

[Bullseye]

Got bitten by a grass snake that had not long hatched from it's egg !,two fangs that were like miniture hypodermic needles,yes,it stung for freaking days afterwards !.Handled many other grass snakes but that was the only one that bit me.

[Jim Ford]

I can recall putting my finger in the mouth of a grass snake that was 'playing dead' many years ago. I can only remember it feeling a bit rough.

Jim

[Vicar]

Heh, Hi James.

Well...Grass snakes don't bite. (OK I'm lying, they do bite occasionally, but usually in very stressed situations, and there is a tendency for it to be the larger animals. You can never say never, but a bite is unlikely. When they do bite, they often draw blood. The stink is usually more of an annoyance than any pain).

Smooth snakes have a reputation for biting, but this is normally only when handled roughly and being deliberately restrained. I've never been bitten by one that I let slide through my fingers. Ca will usually give you a warning when they are reaching their limit of tolerance, by nuzzling your hand with the side of their mouth. If they do bite, it's more of a shock than painful, as it's a full on strike with mouth wide open. They can draw blood, but not usually. Never pull a biting snake off of your hand as their teeth are curved backwards, and you'll do the snake an injury. Place it on the ground and it will let go and disappear off into the undergrowth.

Adders, you can dramaticaly reduce your chances of an adder bite by not being a man who has picked one up! (the usual demographic).

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Vicar

The stink is usually more of an annoyance than any pain.

IIRC, it's a job to rid your hands of it. I can remember washing my hands several times with scented soap, and still being able to smell the grass snake!

Jim

[wellies101]

Cheers all

Like I say won't be picking anything up and will only pick a smoothy up if I'm 110% certain there are no adders around. I've been told about the loose grip to give a smoothy and letting it run through your fingers. Did this twice on my training day, phenominal experience.

Many thanks to all replies. Looks like I might be in mild discomfort in the bite region for 24hrs or so IF I get bitten. Looks like it won't happen though.