Adders, Grass snakes in my garden

[Jesse]

My garden boarders my self home grown cover and wood piles and wood chip piles, cover is now about 10 years old and has just reached canopy closure, mixed evergreen and deciduous trees, very diverse species mix of trees, I also maintain a variety of different grass heights where it still grows, the range of wildlife is now vast, Owls, Fox, Badger , Deer, Small lizards, lots of snakes. Last year was the first time I had noticed them with possibly 20 to 30 sightings , this year starting this month its reached the point that I now have to be very careful when walking outside, they are fantastic but could they kill a Jack Russel, Found one again just now while out with one of me dogs , dog did not see it and the Adder (i think) was eating a Toed so had it mouth full. Sent some photos to another member and hopefully he will post. Great to see them but why so many or is it just one or two that i keep seeing.

[Matthew Storrs]

Yuo got the same ideas, i will never have Otters but do get once a year Stoats, they are a treat, they have very poor eye sight , a bit like me, but if i stand at the foot of the top wood pile, still for ages, first you hear them cheeting, then they will run out around your feet, in and out of the logs. Chasing the sent of the Rabbits.

 

Yes I have found that with stoat- I was rebuilding a stone wall on a track next to some 10 yr old woodland and suddenly heard this almighty screaming of a rabbit being pursued by a stoat I couldn't believe how close they came to despite me crashing around beforehand. I watched for a while, you got to feel sorry for the wabbit, the stoat didn't kill it in one go but bit it, chased it bit again, until the rabbit was just a squeaking wreck, then the stoat tryed to pull it back into his hole and couldn't fit the rabbit through very well and got spooked by something ran off leaving the rabbit still half alive.

I think half the problem is the stoats go for rabbits which are actually a bit big for them.

[kennyjames]

There is really nothing made that will repel them. Besides eating insects, they will eat frogs, toads, earthworm, moles, mice, etc.

 

If you've killed five garden snakes, apparently you're not too afraid to get too close to them. They are completely harmless and will not hurt you. Why not just walk away from them.

Or, if you have any kids in the area, maybe they will scoop them up and remove them for you.

[Rich2484]

There is really nothing made that will repel them. Besides eating insects, they will eat frogs, toads, earthworm, moles, mice, etc.

 

If you've killed five garden snakes, apparently you're not too afraid to get too close to them. They are completely harmless and will not hurt you. Why not just walk away from them.

Or, if you have any kids in the area, maybe they will scoop them up and remove them for you.

 

Pah, easy to say. I just freeze up and can't move. Even if I want to.

[Big J]

My best advice with regards to adders is don't pick them up. As a 10 year old walking with my dad and brother on the Epsom downs I saw one slither across the path ahead of us. I'd always been obsessed with all things creepy crawly and without thinking lunged to pick it up. Consequently the little bugger bit my right forefinger. It was a very young adder, not more than 18 inches long, but still packed a punch. Speedy journey to the local hospital ensues, with the somewhat amusing scene of lots of nurses and doctors buzzing round me (calling larger hospitals in London for advice as they'd not had an adder bite for 3 years). Amusing until I started projectile vomiting and blacked out that is!

Spent the night in hospital with a monster drip in my arm (gave me a bit of a phobia of needles that lasted almost 15 years), and ended up with my right hand every colour of the rainbow and about three times the size it should have been. Being the days just before computers were widespread in schools (and being right handed), I was unable to write or do any school work for about 6 weeks!

 

I've seen several adders since, and have always resisted the temptation to hospitalise myself.

[Daniël Bos]

I've lost a cow to an adder bite.

Poor thing must have stood on the adder with her head low down whilst grazing. Her head and neck swelled up so much she choked. I farmed an area with a very good reptile population and that was the only victim ever.

I'd still never hurt one of them though.

[Mull]

A tiny wee one I saw last summer, been posted already so you may have seen it!

[stoff101]

Think yourself lucky to come across one feeding! Very jealous!

[Graham]

I live in an area with a large population of adders although I very rarely see one. I'm always wary when out with the dog as I'm not sure how they react to bites. Interestingly I picked up a roadkill grass snake once and threw it on the back of the pick up. When I returned home I did my usual: let the dog out, dropped the tailgate and the dog jumped on expecting his usual ride. I've never seen a dog move so fast. Trying to get grip on the plastic liner his legs moved but he didn't:001_smile:

 

I suppose he must have had an inbuilt fear of snakes as it took him a long time to regain his confidence with the back of the truck again.

[hedgesparrow]

re adder bites and dogs. heard of a st bernard dropped by a adder. had to be rushed to the vets who then had to get anti venom from southampton general to give to dog was a touch and go. so if out and you think there may be adders check which is a local vet and if they have anti venom. as needs to be given fast more so in small dogs. and humans

[H-A]

My wife was in Gwithian towans the summer before last, with her sister and lots of kids.

 

They came across this.

 

 

They were not sure what it was, but to cut a very long story short my nephew spent the night in hospital under observation after he was bitten on the finger. Finger swelled up and went black, he won't do that again.

 

It is apparently a "Dune Adder", according to the lady in the pharmacy.

 

Very different colouring, quite stunning.

 

H-A