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.

[Taupotreeman]

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

 

That's a beautiful snake. Never heard of one before but very pretty colour.

 

 

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[Drew87]

Reason the colours are Dark / Unclear .. The Snakes getting ready to Shed again. If you dont want to keep killing them, Ring RSPS and ask their advice or ask them to remove them from your property. They will proberly Smoke them out and away from your property, away from the runs underground or in Thick undergrowth. A good way to Prevent them settling .. Tin Roofing, Tarpoling, anything that can Conduct Heat and provide Shelter aswell as Shade needs to be picked up off the Floor / Stood Up. This reduces the amount of 'Hiding Places' as these Snakes are very Shy, usually. Try seek help ASAP as by the looks and sounds of it, these snakes want to settle/you have provided perfect conditions .. As Snakes Breed a little slower than mice, but can lay plenty.

[Drew87]

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

 

Agree with you there mate. Read afew comments stating our UK Adders arent poisonous .. NOT the case.!!! We have Two Venomous aswell as a Cross-Bred Constrictor. (As far as i know the Constrictor Hybrid is a Python cross Adder) Rare to see as very shy but its here. Venomous: Theres at least 1 Grass Adder and 1 Breed of Grass Snake that ARE Venomous and HAS killed Toddlers aswell as Dogs. Has anyone thought of checking if any Exotic Petshops are in the area?? Alot of Snakes coming through now from Eggs being Raised in Incubators to Study Breeds off the Web .. People have them escape over night regularly or release them themselves as cant care for them any longer. I lived above a Petshop in London who bragged about having a 8ft Diamond Head Rattler .. Til it escaped, Bit Him, Ate his Dog n he Killed it as it fed. Be careful messing with Snakes your not 100% sure of .. Theres alot out there that Duplicate the look of another for Camo, survival etc. Kill em as you see em or get a Professional ins my advice.!!

[Drew87]

A tiny wee one I saw last summer, been posted already so you may have seen it![ATTACH]146209[/ATTACH]

 

You have the Vipera Berus there mate. Can Kill a Cow in about 20-30mins

[Drew87]

Hard to Spot in Brash

[woodrich]

So has anyone actually overcome their fear of snakes? If so how?

I could not harm one, mainly because I would be running in the opposite direction, leaving Usane Bolt in my dust.

They don't even have to be real a kid at school put me in hospital when he cornered me with toy one.

The doctor said it was programmed into me probably from the Stone age a faulty Gene or something that reacts to the markings. Then he fetched one of those plastic baby toys made from red, yellow and blue sections nothing could look less threatening.

The last thing I heard him saying was this won't make you run off. But it did.

It's not often you hear a nursing Sister shout WTF? In a hospital corridor.

[Drew87]

Adder or Viper - Vipera berus

[Drew87]

So has anyone actually overcome their fear of snakes? If so how?

I could not harm one, mainly because I would be running in the opposite direction, leaving Usane Bolt in my dust.

They don't even have to be real a kid at school put me in hospital when he cornered me with toy one.

The doctor said it was programmed into me probably from the Stone age a faulty Gene or something that reacts to the markings. Then he fetched one of those plastic baby toys made from red, yellow and blue sections nothing could look less threatening.

The last thing I heard him saying was this won't make you run off. But it did.

It's not often you hear a nursing Sister shout WTF? In a hospital corridor.

 

LMAO.!! Is true .. The Natural Instinct toward a Snake is Fear. Taught to us as Children. Get over your fears of them Perhaps play with a Slow Worm n Build up to a Corn Snake.??

[woodrich]

Ha I can't even touch the pictures in that link!

[Drew87]

Ha I can't even touch the pictures in that link!

 

LMAO..,Now PMSL. Its all true mate .. The Fears of a Snake, Spider etc are all taught to us in the Bible, Films etc. Its seriously hard to go Against your Natural Instincts when its Inprinted. Slow Worms DONT Bite. Infact if you can pick up an Earthworm, Ragworm you CAN Pick up a Slow Worm .. The More you Handle Corns the more they get used to your scent n recognise you as a 'Friendly'. Corns Strike then Constrict and Gobble Prey pretty quick. I suggest Slow Worm, then Handle a Ghost Corn. (Pink eyes, not Evil Looking Slit Eyes) Misconception of Snakes is that they're Slimey .. Again, Not the case. Dry Scales that 'Grip' under belly, Smooth, Silky Top Half, Even if on the very odd occasion the Corn 'Misses' its strike n gets your hand .. DONT Do What my mate Andy done with mine .. Freaked the F out, and Flung the Snake across the room into the wall. Had a pretty agressive 3ft Corn after that and took about 2 months to get her back to being her usual self. (Friendly, Really Good at Feeding etc)

 

(Not laughing at you .. Laughing at your wording. lmao.!!) :-)