What kind of snake is this?

[Gring]

Whilst walking my dog today, I came across two snakes, one was fairly large and slivered away quite quickly but the other smaller one hung around long enough for me to take a photo. Any snake experts out there? Is it an Adder?

[WorAl]

Adder

[al1991]

I'd love to see a snake in England! They're like a phantom presence to me for some reason I just find it so hard to believe we have them in this country...

[Gring]

Apart from a grass snake, these were the only two I have ever seen in England. They did send a slight shudder up my spine!

[SirClarke]

Quite a young adder. Where abouts are you in the country out of interest?

I spend a fair bit of time out and about in the wilds and am still yet to see an adder in this country

[WorAl]

al1991 said:

I'd love to see a snake in England! They're like a phantom presence to me for some reason I just find it so hard to believe we have them in this country...

See quite a few in Kielder/Otterburn area, my dog was bitten through the lip by one and almost collapsed had to put her on my back (piggy back position) and run over a mile home with her then take her 20 miles in the car to the vet, she was ok but the lamb i hit in the land rover on the way to the vets wasnt.

[Gring]

SirClarke said:

Quite a young adder. Where abouts are you in the country out of interest?

I spend a fair bit of time out and about in the wilds and am still yet to see an adder in this country

I am in Hampshire on the south coast, We have an area behind our house that is very sandy with lots of fern. I have heard snakes like that type of habitat. Now I have seen one, I dont really wish to see another! More worried about my dog, she runs like a mad thing through all the bush's etc

[Gring]

WorAl said:

al1991 said:

I'd love to see a snake in England! They're like a phantom presence to me for some reason I just find it so hard to believe we have them in this country...

See quite a few in Kielder/Otterburn area, my dog was bitten through the lip by one and almost collapsed had to put her on my back (piggy back position) and run over a mile home with her then take her 20 miles in the car to the vet, she was ok but the lamb i hit in the land rover on the way to the vets wasnt.

This worries me!

[cptsideways]

Gring said:

SirClarke said:

Quite a young adder. Where abouts are you in the country out of interest?

I spend a fair bit of time out and about in the wilds and am still yet to see an adder in this country

I am in Hampshire on the south coast, We have an area behind our house that is very sandy with lots of fern. I have heard snakes like that type of habitat. Now I have seen one, I dont really wish to see another! More worried about my dog, she runs like a mad thing through all the bush's etc

You'll see loads of them if you look! Always found in heather/sandy areas. Best place to spot them is on sandy trails sunning themselves on small high spots of ground with good sunlight. They are fairly harmless to large dogs, small dogs can be a problem if they get bitten unless of course your dog likes finding them that is!

Used to see loads about on the surrey hills, though scariest moment for me was seeing one swim up to me whilst fishing in a lake one day did'nt know they could swim

[WorAl]

Gring said:

WorAl said:

al1991 said:

I'd love to see a snake in England! They're like a phantom presence to me for some reason I just find it so hard to believe we have them in this country...

See quite a few in Kielder/Otterburn area, my dog was bitten through the lip by one and almost collapsed had to put her on my back (piggy back position) and run over a mile home with her then take her 20 miles in the car to the vet, she was ok but the lamb i hit in the land rover on the way to the vets wasnt.

This worries me!

yeah keep an eye on her, they dont inject deadly doses of venom when warning the dog away, but it will make your dog pretty much unable to walk (rather like being on ddrugs) aparently i was even luckier to have the snakes fangs actually go fully through the lip.

[beefcake42]

err it could be an adder.. or a very rare smooth snake...

[Gring]

So what kind of potency is the venom if a human is bitten?

[DrTre]

Compass Snake

[WorAl]

Gring said:

So what kind of potency is the venom if a human is bitten?

same sort of thing, they dont try to kill just stun, as it would take too much venom to kill you which they have to produce again. You'll just go a bit weary, younger kids may be affected worse.

[Smiler.]

Jam-wad.

I've never seen one in the wild.

Seen a couple of Slow Worms but I'd love to see an Adder.

I can see why a dog owner who walks them in heathland would have an increased chance of coming across one though.

[al1991]

WorAl said:

al1991 said:

I'd love to see a snake in England! They're like a phantom presence to me for some reason I just find it so hard to believe we have them in this country...

See quite a few in Kielder/Otterburn area, my dog was bitten through the lip by one and almost collapsed had to put her on my back (piggy back position) and run over a mile home with her then take her 20 miles in the car to the vet, she was ok but the lamb i hit in the land rover on the way to the vets wasnt.

[schmalex]

Looks like a young adder.

We have a nest of them in the field next to our house. The kids have all been told not to play there & if they do & are bitten, to walk and ABSOLUTELY not run to a grownup.

[sonic_2k_uk]

The groundsman who works on the properties in my area (for my landlord) ended up in hospital for a few weeks after being bitten by an adder.

He said he was pruning some bush when the snake came out of nowhere and bit his hand

The problem was he walked a mile back to his van, which got the venom pumping around his body, and he collapsed when he got there. Luckily his son was there so called in the ambulance.

He had some kind of reaction to it which caused his whole arm to swell up, pretty scary!

[beefcake42]

Gring said:

So what kind of potency is the venom if a human is bitten?

from experience very painfull bee sting, with woozyness and some numbness.. After a FRANTIC visit to the hospital thinking I was going to die, I was told not to worry. Unless you are a mouse it's not going to do you too much harm.

So don't worry.. unless you are a mouse.

oh and reading above unless you are allergic.. but then you wouldn't know that until you get bitten... cripes.

Edited by beefcake42 on Thursday 24th September 15:36

[Moose.]

DrTre said:

Compass Snake

Very good