And I thought this was just a TV comedy series… (1 Viewer)

[KenM]

Up until a received image yesterday, I was oblivious to the existence of the above,
clearly must get out more often! 😮

 

[Harry Stottle]

Up until a received image yesterday, I was oblivious to the existence of the above,
clearly must get out more often! 😮

There are lots of Adders in my area but not many black ones. Apart from the occasional nosey dog being bitten they cause no problems. I have never heard of anyone around here being bitten. The unfortunate Adder is often then beaten to death with a stick by the doggie person (if they can see it).

 

[KenM]

There are lots of Adders in my area but not many black ones. Apart from the occasional nosey dog being bitten they cause no problems. I have never heard of anyone around here being bitten. The unfortunate Adder is often then beaten to death with a stick by the doggie person (if they can see it).

Having lived and played in my “forested” area for 68 years, I’ve only ever seen one Adder!
A suspected female (swollen body) that slithered out of the bracken, narrowly missing the front wheel of my bike as she crossed the “ride” with me braking at speed!
Must look down more often.😉

 

[Harry Stottle]

I did hear of someone who was bitten whilst ringing Fulmars (if I remember correctly) on a cliff. Although he felt OK, he decided to climb back up the cliff just on case. He made it to the top but soon collapsed after feeling rather unwell. His companions took him to hospital, where he made a full recovery after anti-venom treatment.

 

[aeshna5]

There's a site in west London with a large Adder population (reputedly one of the largest in the UK) & a few years back on an organised walk with a herpetologist that monitored them, we saw 21 Adders & 3 of them were melanistic.

 

[Harry Stottle]

There's a site in west London with a large Adder population (reputedly one of the largest in the UK) & a few years back on an organised walk with a herpetologist that monitored them, we saw 21 Adders & 3 of them were melanistic.

Was it the Houses of Parliament? It is the only place in London I can think of that is full of snakes.

 

[aeshna5]

Was it the Houses of Parliament?

Oh dear!

 

[Andy Adcock]

I did hear of someone who was bitten whilst ringing Fulmars (if I remember correctly) on a cliff. Although he felt OK, he decided to climb back up the cliff just on case. He made it to the top but soon collapsed after feeling rather unwell. His companions took him to hospital, where he made a full recovery after anti-venom treatment.

I was bitten some years ago in Russia by Vipera berus and anyone who says it's no more than a bee sting, is very, very, wrong. The antivenom (Zagreb) is not always administered straight away as in itself, can have some unpleasant side effects. I was put on a drip and monitored for two hours before they deceided that my body was coping with the bite and that I didn't need the antivenom.

I was bitten at the first joint of my middle finger. I then had three weeks during which my entire hand and arm were so swollen, I couldn't hold them by my side as it was too painful. I can't imagine what a Rattlesnake or Pit Viper bite must be like.

For those that haven't seen the images.

 

[OrnithologyDevotee]

I was bitten some years ago in Russia by Vipera berus and anyone who says it's no more than a bee sting, is very, very, wrong. The antivenom (Zagreb) is not always administered straight away as in itself, can have some unpleasant side effects. I was put on a drip and monitored for two hours before they deceided that my body was coping with the bite and that I didn't need the antivenom.

I was bitten at the first joint of my middle finger. I then had three weeks during which my entire hand and arm were so swollen, I couldn't hold them by my side as it was too painful. I can't imagine what a Rattlesnake or Pit Viper bite mus be like.

For those that haven't seen the images.

Must've been unpleasant! The worst bite/sting I ever got was when I went surfing a few years back on the California coast. I got stung on the foot by a stingray and it hit a vein. I went to the doctor and they said it should be fine. Then a few days later my foot gets so swollen I can't walk and I have to use a wheelchair to go around for a week while the antibiotics did their job. It was far worse than any sting/bite I've ever received not because of the sting itself, but because of the aftermath.

 

[Harry Stottle]

I was bitten some years ago in Russia by Vipera berus and anyone who says it's no more than a bee sting, is very, very, wrong. The antivenom (Zagreb) is not always administered straight away as in itself, can have some unpleasant side effects. I was put on a drip and monitored for two hours before they deceided that my body was coping with the bite and that I didn't need the antivenom.

I was bitten at the first joint of my middle finger. I then had three weeks during which my entire hand and arm were so swollen, I couldn't hold them by my side as it was too painful. I can't imagine what a Rattlesnake or Pit Viper bite must be like.

For those that haven't seen the images.

Adder bites are dangerous for small children and the elderly (can be fatal), but healthy adults usually recover well after treatment.

How many people have died from adder bites in the UK? - The Environmental Literacy Council

How Many People Have Died From Adder Bites in the UK? The grim reality is that while adder bites are […]

enviroliteracy.org

 

[Steve Babbs]

I think the post was more about black adders than bites. There are a fair few reports of 'black' adders in Suffolk however I've only ever seen this one, despite seeing a fair few adders each year.