Adders

al woodcock · #1 (**permalink**) 12-01-2010, 10:32 PM

The adders should be up next month. I'm going to monitor the area as from tomorrow, and see just exactly when they emerge this year!

marvin · #2 (**permalink**) 13-01-2010, 08:35 AM

good luck!

i'd be surprised if you see anything in the current conditions. assuming things return to 'normal' soon you may start to see males out around valentines day, but keep us posted.

bran goesgoch · #3 (**permalink**) 13-01-2010, 07:16 PM

Interesting thread this for me, as I'm a very keen hill walker and my ultimate fear is bumping into one of these guys whilst out there

. At least I now know when to start looking out for them.

fairplay · #4 (**permalink**) 13-01-2010, 11:22 PM

You should put the fear of adders completely out of your mind.
If you are a hill walker, you probably wear stiff thick soles, which would make your steps heavy, sending vibrations to the adder giving it time to slither away.
Alternatively, if the wind is behind you, the adder will get a whiff of your scent and move to safety.

BUT, a lot of the time they will just stay still and rely on their camouflage and you will walk past without seeing it.

The biggest 'danger' is on Open Access land when you may be walking through the heather with no obvious tracks.
It is hard going walking through heather and one is tempted to step onto spaces between the plants, but this is where you may come close to actually stepping on an adder, which will be most likely in a position where the sun is shining to warm up, especially after sunrise or just before sunset.

Mid-day in full sun is too hot for them, so they will be in the shade somewhere.
Somebody once told me they came across an adder that refused to move off a narrow track as it had young, but my belief is that they abandon their young at birth, although I have seen young (6 inches) and adults together.

They will (nearly) always be basking close to cover of some sort ready for a quick retreat and on sunken footpaths look on the side which catches the sunlight.

I was unpaid manager of a private nature reserve for a short while and found it very easy to make a semi-circle shape in the bracken, using last years dead bracken as a camouflage base with logs, gorse or heather forming the semi-circle facing south. These basking areas were set out throughout the reserve and everyone was quickly occupied.

I also constructed 2 hibernacula/hibernaculum's and these too were quickly adopted, but with just one pair in each, but these results were inconclusive as the owner would take her dog into the reserve, she didn't like adders, and got her gardener to trash the hibernaculums. A sad end.

By the way, an adder bite is no worse than a wasp sting and in most cases hospital treatment is not needed, the biggest danger is from analyptic (someone else will spell that word)! shock - which is nothing to do with being bitten on the bum

, so it is important for this reason alone, you do seek medical advice immediately.
Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I think the last case of a death due to a bite (not shock) was over 50 years ago, although dogs die every year.

Neil.

Neil.

bran goesgoch · #5 (**permalink**) 14-01-2010, 12:39 AM

Cheers for all of this information fairplay, I've virtually no knowledge what so ever when it comes to Adders, well snakes in general really. I have only ever spotted one whilst out walking and as you have suggested it was sunning itself in a clearing in heather. I've since steered well clear of mountains covered with heather for the fear of stepping on one.

fairplay · #6 (**permalink**) 14-01-2010, 12:58 AM

I better do a few corrections before someone shoots me down.

The last death in the UK was in 1975 (5 year old child)
A lady was bitten on the foot in the Blackwater Estuary, Essex in 1998 and reacted badly, nearly dying.
There is no such thing as 'analyptic shock' - I should have written 'haemolytic shock', which is basically a panic reaction (and dangerous).
50% of adder bites fail to inject enough venom to cause any problems.
In case of complications it is best to get to hospital to be safe (although treatment is not always required).
DO NOT PANIC ! Keep calm, as this will stop the blood from circulating the poison to a degree. Most bites are to the hands (through irresponsible handling) so raise the bitten hand and place on your head, and walk calmly to fetch assistance.
If bitten on the foot, raise foot above head height, and walk calmly to fetch assistance.
Don't laugh, as this circulates the venom to rest of body.

I am not a doctor - OK ? (and not a good comedian either)

Neil.

Jason Green · #7 (**permalink**) 14-01-2010, 01:14 AM

Hi all,

Good luck with your trip, Al

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairplay

If bitten on the foot, raise foot above head height, and walk calmly to fetch assistance.

...do you mean 'hop', as it would be rather difficult to walk calmly to get help, with one of your feet above your head!

Maybe make a phone call or send a companion...

I certainly agree with keeping your pulse low to prevent the spread of venom - very good advice, a good post Neil

Take care,

Jason

BucksMike · #8 (**permalink**) 14-01-2010, 09:12 AM

Bran

I think you have already said it in that you are an active hill walker and I would ask how many adders or even snakes have you seen. I suspect not very many if any at all. I enjoy looking at snakes both here and abroad and usually have great difficulty in finding any and that is looking hard, being very quiet and walking very softly in areas and at times when I suspect they may be out. I would suggest that lots of snakes have seen or known you were around but "hide" until you have passed and not one has "jumped" out to bite you.
I always count myself privileged to see one wherever I am.

Beekeeper · #9 (**permalink**) 14-01-2010, 04:39 PM

I find generally that adders will clear off if they know you are tramping through the undergrowth, only once i surprised one, she was in the act of skin shedding and my foot came within an inch of her head, she was so beautiful i stayed perfectly still and watched her, she didn't move, eventually i decided to carefully lift my foot and place it to one side away from her and with that she quietly slipped away into the bracken.

Ian

Ukwildlifeo · #10 (**permalink**) 14-01-2010, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairplay

I better do a few corrections before someone shoots me down.

The last death in the UK was in 1975 (5 year old child)
A lady was bitten on the foot in the Blackwater Estuary, Essex in 1998 and reacted badly, nearly dying.
There is no such thing as 'analyptic shock' - I should have written 'haemolytic shock', which is basically a panic reaction (and dangerous).
50% of adder bites fail to inject enough venom to cause any problems.
In case of complications it is best to get to hospital to be safe (although treatment is not always required).
DO NOT PANIC ! Keep calm, as this will stop the blood from circulating the poison to a degree. Most bites are to the hands (through irresponsible handling) so raise the bitten hand and place on your head, and walk calmly to fetch assistance.
If bitten on the foot, raise foot above head height, and walk calmly to fetch assistance.
Don't laugh, as this circulates the venom to rest of body.

I am not a doctor - OK ? (and not a good comedian either)

Neil.

I could be added that most the people that are bitten were "just picking it up to take a photo of me holding it" or "to get it off the path," The same people then demand health and saftey notices and threaten to sue

But to agrre what others have said there is nothing to worry about with adders in terms of them hunting you down and bitting you, take from someone thats spent many hours trying to get close to one its not easy!