Farnboro John
Well-known member
Recently two people I know have managed to get themselves bitten by Adders: one was Mark Hows, who has put details on his blog reachable from a picture of the culprit (which he was trying to help - how's that song go again "you knew I was a snake before you took me in"?)
The other shall be nameless but I shall relate the circumstances.
They were approaching a tin sheet to check for Adders underneath it. A widespread practice, but what apparently they didn't know is that in warm weather Adders frequently lie out near enough to the tin to get back under it in case of threat.
This one didn't get back in time to avoid the clumping great foot that came down next to it - which it promptly bit. Luckily it was a warning bite and the victim insists the snake did not inject. Not something you can depend on!
So - if you must go looking for Adders - remember they may not be where you want them to be.
Incidentally if Mark reads this, I would like to know how much it hurt, for how long, and what treatment he was offered at hospital. I seem to recall hearing that with modern knowledge of anaphylaxis, the preferred treatment is just pain relief?
John
The other shall be nameless but I shall relate the circumstances.
They were approaching a tin sheet to check for Adders underneath it. A widespread practice, but what apparently they didn't know is that in warm weather Adders frequently lie out near enough to the tin to get back under it in case of threat.
This one didn't get back in time to avoid the clumping great foot that came down next to it - which it promptly bit. Luckily it was a warning bite and the victim insists the snake did not inject. Not something you can depend on!
So - if you must go looking for Adders - remember they may not be where you want them to be.
Incidentally if Mark reads this, I would like to know how much it hurt, for how long, and what treatment he was offered at hospital. I seem to recall hearing that with modern knowledge of anaphylaxis, the preferred treatment is just pain relief?
John