I photographed this snake today near my home in Dorset, can someone tell me what type it is?

many thanks

Hi, Nice picture, I would think that it is an adder. I have never seen a live one in the wild. I am only going off the ones already in our gallery. Have a look & see what you think. I know the conservation area at Studland has lots of adders so I would think that you would find them all over Dorset also.

This post was last modified: 09-10-2007 06:32 AM by tibbar.

It looks like an adder to me as well. Is this the first time you've seen one?

Welcome to Wildlife UK!

Kingfisher

I have never actually seen a snake in the wild before, which I guess is quite unusual. But from other pictures and programmes I've seen I would say that is an adder too

Welcome to the website!

It definitely looks like an adder. I'm not sure I would have had the nerve to stand and take a picture that close so well done for taking it.

This post was last modified: 10-10-2007 06:37 PM by riana.

I'm not a huge fan of snakes (as you probably all know!) but if you do not get too close to them, you are completely safe. They will only strike out if they feel threatened, usually when people feel confident around them and do something like try and pick them up. Even though I don't like they, they rae definitely one of the most misunderstood animals in the UK.

The picture is great, thanks for posting it.

Thanks for your replies.

I photographed the snake at the beginning of October in a woodland near my home. It is an area that I walk my dog in and it is known to have adders. Because of this I have avoided walking there most days during the summer. An adder bite for my dog would be quite a serious problem I think, with a high vet's bill for sure.
So when I photographed the snake I was hoping it was just a grass snake.

Does someone know when adders begin hibernation? I would like to know when I will be safe to dog walk in this woodland again. Added to which I saw another snake (possibly the same one) sitting on a tree stump again only last week. This was very surprising for me as it was a damp cloudy day. I thought that snakes only do this on sunny days?

many thanks

There's always seasonal variations for hibernation--if it's warm still, adders will be out. They can also emerge briefly even when 'hibernating' if there are enough warm days. They should definitely start hibernating when hard freezes occur.

You don't want your dog around adders, for sure! If your dog does ever happen to get bitten, make sure that you remove any collars so that your dog does not suffocate, and take it to the vet's immediately.

I can't answer the question about your stump-sitting snake, other than to say that the snake at least must have thought it was a warm spot.

Kingfisher

With even a human adder bite it's probably best to go straight to a vet as they are more likely to have an anti venom - or so I have been told. It makes sense as I would think dogs and other animals get bitten much more frequently than humans.

First aid for dogs.
1.Always carry your mobile with your vets number in it.
2.Identify the snake.
3.Keep dog calm
4.Transport straight to vet.

Take collar off or loosen is a good idea as this can help maintain the airway.

yes, it may well be an adder

Further to my post . I have a book called ' First aid for Dogs' & I have a doggie first aid kit that I put together from recommendations of this book.

A good idea to have a dog first aid kit around, much better to be safe than sorry. What kind of things do you have in it?

I'll just move to off topic for dog first aid kit

Adders brumate (hibernating is stocking up on food, snakes brumate, which is clearing their digestive system of food as their metabolism slows to a near-halt) generally around October-November. It's not uncommon to see them out later or for the odd day should it warm up. I hear there was a sighting down here in Surrey a few days back when the temperatures were extremely mild for January!

They'll most likely appear between March-April, when the temperatures begin warming up. They brumate as they need heat to produce digestive enzymes. That sort of heat just isn't available in the winter. If a snake comes out on a rare-warm day mid-January and catches a toad, it'll regurgitate it if the temperatures aren't sufficient. Vomiting for snakes is extremely stressful and upsets the stomach easily. Snakes in captivity which have been healthy prior to a regurge have died from it.

Further to that, the heat of the summer kills the sperm in a snake. The snake needs temperatures low enough and brumation to produce sperm. Some snakes in captivity such as corn snakes can breed at any time, which is why cohabiting is dangerous, especially for those too young who may become egg bound.

Antivenin

Only two hospitals stock antivenin in the UK. That is two hospitals which escape my memory, in Liverpool and in London. Universities and research labs have them, so if you're bitten in Coventry, the hospital will have it couriered from Warwick university for example.

I'd imagine Xeract is correct with the type of person who gets bitten - most likely people intrigued by a wild snake with a nice zig-zag pattern. After all, sure the UK doesn't have snakes which will kill you (unless you're unfortunate enough to suffer an anaphylatcic shock) - it's like a bee sting at worse!

...Not so!

35 people have died in recorded history in the UK from bites from adders. The last being in the mid-70's when a 5 year old was bitten. Most of the time, Adders will dry bite, injecting no venom. When they do though, you will end up sick and if untreated, it can prove fatal depending on the amount injected, and also how concentrated the venom is. Remember the adder is a Viper. They are dangerous and as history tells us, fatal.

That doesn't mean if you see one in your garden you have to get the shovel. It'll move in its own time. They're very shy creatures, though occasionally you do get larger snakes who are sure of their size. By that, I don't mean they'll rear up and spring into a 20ft leap, 6 foot off of the ground aiming for the jugular! I mean there are some who will square up if threatened or confronted - confrontation/threatened being the pivotal word.

If you get bitten, get yourself to a hospital. There's no need to kill the snake and take it with you. A blood test will reveal what bit you and the appropriate antivenin will be administered. Even with that, 2 weeks of a horrible fever and sickness is not uncommon after suffering a venomous bite from the Adder.