Adders in UK

[Gundogs]

I live in an area of Surrey that is very well populated by adders - they've just started coming out of hibernation in the last week or so.


You again? by Penelope Malby Photography, on Flickr


Basking adder by Penelope Malby Photography, on Flickr


Patinated by Penelope Malby Photography, on Flickr


Ready... by Penelope Malby Photography, on Flickr

Hoping to see the males "dancing" in a couple of weeks time.

[britain]

Nice shots..

[rick_reno]

nice, they look nasty. are they?

[Gundogs]

Thanks all.

Originally Posted by rick_reno

nice, they look nasty. are they?

well, they're the UK's only venomous snake so yeah it's not great if you're bitten. humans mostly don't die, just get quite sick. Dogs on the other hand, regularly die so as you can imagine with my 6, we have to be up and out very early to walk the woofers, before the snakes wake up. We live right near these snakes so walking elsewhere isn't really an option for us. On the one hand it's great living somewhere so wild, on the other hand, it has it's downsides.
But I guess we don't have grizzlys / big snakes / and other scary critters like you do in the US!

[rick_reno]

Originally Posted by Gundogs

Thanks all.



well, they're the UK's only venomous snake so yeah it's not great if you're bitten. humans mostly don't die, just get quite sick. Dogs on the other hand, regularly die so as you can imagine with my 6, we have to be up and out very early to walk the woofers, before the snakes wake up. We live right near these snakes so walking elsewhere isn't really an option for us. On the one hand it's great living somewhere so wild, on the other hand, it has it's downsides.
But I guess we don't have grizzlys / big snakes / and other scary critters like you do in the US!

I don't worry about the grizzlies/big snakes/other critters nearly as much as I do about the screwball people we have here.

[Nymphalidae]

Very impressive shots

[myphotographic]

According to the NHS: "Since records began in 1876 there have only been 14 reported deaths as a result of adder bites, with the last death occurring in 1975". Thats less in a century than bee stings in a year. I also believe more often than not, it turns out somebody was trying to handle them when they got bitten.

Quite frankly, we have nothing to fear. They on the other hand are facing serious risk of being wiped out through loss and fragmentation of habitat.

Personally, I can't seem to find them even when I try at known hotspots. My single sighting was on a RSPB walk when the guide looked under some tin.

[Wallace River]

Wonderful. I hate snakes.

[Gundogs]

Originally Posted by myphotographic

According to the NHS: "Since records began in 1876 there have only been 14 reported deaths as a result of adder bites, with the last death occurring in 1975". Thats less in a century than bee stings in a year. I also believe more often than not, it turns out somebody was trying to handle them when they got bitten.

Quite frankly, we have nothing to fear. They on the other hand are facing serious risk of being wiped out through loss and fragmentation of habitat.

Personally, I can't seem to find them even when I try at known hotspots. My single sighting was on a RSPB walk when the guide looked under some tin.

ah well if you want to visit me in Surrey I can show you plenty they are certainly not in fear of being wiped out here, they are thriving.

[JaySteel]

Always a pleasure to see your adder shots Penelope. They're one of my personal favourite photography subjects. I did see these on the SARG Facebok page.

Jason

[WesDigi]

You've inspired me to add adders to my collection of nature photos.

[digidiva]

I've seen a couple here in Kent too.

My pooch was bitten on the foot about 8 years ago and was left in a very painful condition for a while following vet treatment. Now she does not like long grass!