Adders

There is a report in our local newspaper today that Vets have asked them to warn dog walkers that Adders
(who are normally in hibernation this time of year) have been flushed out of hibernation due to the heavy
rain and flooding.

One dog was bitten a couple of days ago whilst being walked by her owner in a field with lying rainwater.
Thankfully the Vet spotted the two puncture wounds in her paw that was badly swollen and the anti venom
was obtained from a City Hospital and the dog has made a full recovery.

Where is this Lizzy?

Jees, keep your eyes peeps, we're about in the country?

The report was in the Bristol Evening Post and the Vets are on the
outskirts of Bristol covering the rural areas as well.

The actual dog shown in the newspaper was being walked in an area
called Keynsham and Saltford which is between Bristol and Bath.

I posted the information though because I assume if it is happening
here it could happen anywhere that has had a lot of wet weather
this winter, and it might be a good idea to be on your guard.

Must admit it is one thing that has always terrified me, Harry getting
bitten by an Adder because we do a lot of walking near the Mendips.

Rhia I just noticed that you are in Bristol!

Adders can be anywhere rural. When I lived over Kniver, I remember seeing two adders on the dirt track, I thought they were branches at first, till one moved! There use to be 4 men walking everyday, they were in their 60's, we use to call them the summer wise men, lovely they were, they did say while adders are harmless to humans they have a nasty bite that could harm animals and little children. So I would beware where you go walking. I have been extra careful around the woods, and I am doing alot of walking on footpaths lately.

Thing is most people won't see an Adder let alone get bitten by one. I mean they will feel you coming and dissapear long before you see them,you know the most bites come from people trying to kill them. Then of course they don't always inject venom when they bite. They do have control over weather they inject venom or not.

I am assuming a lot of dogs get bit on the nose I'm guessing because the dogs are sniffing around and may not see it and the snake feels threatened.I think the venom however may affect dogs more,especially small dogs,due to the fact the venom is designed for killing the Adders food which is mainly small mammals.

I guess the likely hood of Adder bites on dogs depends also on what area of the country you are in. There is a lot of perfect Adder habitat across the country which don't have any Adders. For example up here in Warwickshire,theres a couple of places at most which have Adders but generally its an Adder free county. However where Adders do occur especially in places like the south west and the gower penninsular in Wales where Adders do occur they can be common

I don't mean this to sound preachy at all,I just don't want it to turn into a big scaremongering theme over something that doesn't appear to be all that common,sure it will be upsetting to have our dogs bitten,but according to google "snake warnings to Bristol dog walkers after Adder attack" Thats what I have a real problem with the Adder didn't "attack" the dog,it didn't set out to hunt the dog down.It was just a defensive action on part of the snake,it didn't know the dog wasn't going to try and harm it . I'm sure if you are in areas where Adders occur just use common sense for you and the dog and be careful where you are walking you will have a very nice walk with out the worst happening

Thanks Shyfx, I agree with all you say.  I do live in an area where we
have Adders and have seen quite a few, usually when they are sunbathing!

However, I do think the Vets were trying to make people aware that
they are active now in February when we normally wouldn't
expect them to be about.  This is down to the enormous amount of
rain we have had.

I don't think they were scaremongering just making dog walkers aware.
The newspapers use of the work 'attack' was unfortunate, but that is
typical media stuff.

Hey Lizzie don't get me wrong I'm not knocking the vets at all its good they have made people aware,what I meant by scaremongering is like if newspapers get hold of stories like that,it will then get blown out off all proportion,then everything will then get blamed on Adders even though they may not of been the cause of anything.

As for them being out now I agree it is quite early,I do think however temp wise you may find this link to a herp forum quite interesting especially the pics

http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/forum/snow-adder_topic4157.html

Well, I have learned something today, thanks for the link. I would
never have believed they would be about with snow on the ground,
but perfect habitat for them in that picture.

At my old house which was quite remote in the countryside we had a resident adder that used to sunbathe on rockery stones around the pond and then go for a swim. I had 4 dogs then, including 2 staffs and I
always worried that one of them would get inquisitive and give the
adder a nudge.

Its a sad fact that most peoples reaction is to want to kill them on sight
through fear and I understand what you are saying about newspapers
making things worse.

Adders are our only venomous snake, I have seen a few of them and would recognise one when and walking. I would avoid them, it's such a shame that some people feel the need to kill anything they don't understand, it sounds familiar doesn't it.

OMG yeah I am from Bristol, I'm not far from saltford either, used to go there for walks. There was a scare of adders a few years ago at brean too, a few people/animals got bit and the closed off certain areas and put big signs up.
Seems like for some reason adders like the West Country, must be our cider lol
But on a serious note if they've been woken early from hibernation, there gonna be in a bad mood, and hungry unless the nice been woken too
Thanks for the warning