Poisonous Snakes in France / Western Europe
Discussion
Snakes are cool. I was somewhat surprised to find this week there are several venomous snakes widespread across France, Austria, Greece, etc., including vipers and a 7ft Montpellier snake. They seem fairly common. But you rarely see the topic mentioned in wildlife programs, newspapers and other media.
Have any PHers come across poisonous snakes in the wild on their European travels? Tales or pics.
Have any PHers come across poisonous snakes in the wild on their European travels? Tales or pics.
I'm in portugal. I found a huge snake a couple of weeks ago when walking the dogs, it was about 3 feet long. Its head was missing, and there was ants all over it.
No idea how or when it lost its head, or if thats what killed it.
I don't think there are any poisonous snakes here, I might be wrong though. I don't care enough to go check.
No idea how or when it lost its head, or if thats what killed it.
I don't think there are any poisonous snakes here, I might be wrong though. I don't care enough to go check.
KFC said:
I'm in portugal. I found a huge snake a couple of weeks ago when walking the dogs, it was about 3 feet long. Its head was missing, and there was ants all over it.
No idea how or when it lost its head, or if thats what killed it.
I don't think there are any poisonous snakes here, I might be wrong though. I don't care enough to go check.
There are 3 types of venomous viper in Portugal. Seem to be about as toxic as a UK adder (i.e. painful but rarely deadly). A quick Google suggests they are mostly in the north and south and getting rarer due to habitat loss etc.No idea how or when it lost its head, or if thats what killed it.
I don't think there are any poisonous snakes here, I might be wrong though. I don't care enough to go check.
Depends on the year. 2009 seems to have been the year of the snake around here and we would often find them around the house, sometimes on the stone walls. Usually vipers around 60 - 80cm.
You might find a couleuvre de Montpellier if you do a lot of walking in the scrubland round the coast. They're not really dangerous as they dont have fangs as such, more a couple of poison teeth at the back of the mouth. Still, at 2m long they will give you a surprise!
You might find a couleuvre de Montpellier if you do a lot of walking in the scrubland round the coast. They're not really dangerous as they dont have fangs as such, more a couple of poison teeth at the back of the mouth. Still, at 2m long they will give you a surprise!
A snake with its head missing is most likely a victim of bird attack... And I don't mean a goldfinch.
Hawks and harriers eat snakes. They will also just take the head off if they see them as a threat to a nearby nest, quite often returning for them if the chicks are large enough to pick at them themselves.
Hawks and harriers eat snakes. They will also just take the head off if they see them as a threat to a nearby nest, quite often returning for them if the chicks are large enough to pick at them themselves.
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