dbaker

I found an old post from 2004 where people were talking about snakes in Scotland. To be sure I understand, there are some non-poisonous varieties of snakes that I could encounter in the countryside but seeing one would be a rarity - and that there are no poisonous snakes in Scotland. Is this correct? I searched internet sights for info on this before I posted, but each sight brought up pics of snakes - and I couldn't bear to look at it!

OReilly

The Viper is poisonous ....

What kind of poisonous snakes or vipers exist in the Scottish Highlands?

There is only one native species of venomous snake that you might encounter in Scotland, which is the common adder Vipera berus. It is usually a light brown color with a dark zigzag band pattern down its back and along its sides. It can be about 19 to 30 inches (48 to 76 centimeters) long. These snakes are generally shy of humans and will move away if given the chance, only biting if they feel threatened.

The other two species of snake that might be found in Scotland are the smooth snake Coronella austriaca and the grass snake Natrix natrix, neither of which is venomous.

dbaker

So, if hiking through tall grass, does one make lots of noise so the snake knows you are coming? That is how we try to avoid rattle snakes in California.

pat_woolford

Snakes aren't poisonous, some are venomous, most are harmless and are more wary of you than you need be of them.

enzian

This snake is found all over Europe, and we've never worried about it hiking. The only time I've seen one was at an outdoor restaurant in an alpine valley in Switzerland. It was resting under a table in the shade. When we approached the table and pulled out a chair, it quickly departed.

icithecat

My first wifes sister, (ex sister in law?) had lived in South Africa, Bahrain, Somalia and others. She was bitten by an adder on a school outing in Kent. As they say, Shift Happens.

OReilly

“This snake is found all over Europe ..”: a slight correction Enzian. There are NO snakes in Ireland, if one is willing to ignore those engaged in politics.

Dbaker, I don’t think you will find snakes a big problem in Scotland. If you have not found anything on the Internet that is probably because, as patwoolford said, they are “venomous” rather than “poisonous” . Searching on “Scotland snakes venomous” seems to provide better results.

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=adder

janisj

The adder or viper (Vipera berus) is common throughout mainland Britain and some of the islands off the west coast of Scotland. Bites occur from February to October, peaking in June to August. Half the patients are bitten on the hand while picking up the adder.

Clinical features
Local envenoming—Immediate sharp pain is followed, usually within a few minutes but sometimes up to more than 30 minutes later, by a sensation of tingling and local swelling that spreads proximally. Local blisters containing blood are uncommon. Spreading pain, tenderness, inflammation (often described misleadingly as "cellulitis," although there is no infection), and tender enlargement of regional lymph nodes are sometimes noticeable within hours. Reddish lymphangitic lines and bruising appear, and the whole limb may become swollen and bruised within 24 hours (fig 2) with involvement of the trunk and, in children, the whole body (fig 3). Suspected intracompartmental syndromes and necrosis are very rare.w10

Systemic envenoming—Dramatic anaphylactoid symptoms may appear within five minutes of the bite (see case history) or may be delayed for many hours. These include nausea; retching; vomiting; abdominal colic; diarrhoea; incontinence of urine and faeces; sweating; fever; vasoconstriction; tachycardia; light-headedness; loss of consciousness; shock; angiooedema of the face, lips, gums, tongue, throat, and epiglottis; urticaria; and bronchospasm.5 w11 These symptoms may persist or fluctuate for as long as 48 hours in the absence of treatment. Hypotension is a most critical sign. It usually develops within two hours and may resolve spontaneously, persist, recur, or progress fatally. Clinical features of a bleeding diathesis are unusual,w12-w14 but bleeding from the gums and nose and into the lungs (fig 4), 6 gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, and serosal cavities and retroperitoneally can occur. The risk of bleeding is greatly increased by misguided treatment with heparin. Fatal haemothorax, massive haematemesis and melaena, haematuria, and intrauterine fetal death are rare tragedies. Acute renal failure has often been described, especially in children. Increased capillary permeability is reflected by the local and sometimes generalised oedema, as well as the more focal angio-oedema that can lead to fatal occlusion of the upper airway, pulmonary oedema,w15 and cerebral oedema. Coma and seizures have been attributed to hypotension, cerebral oedema, hyponatraemia, hypoalbuminaemia, or hypoxaemia secondary to respiratory distress.7 Cardiac arrest, acute gastric dilatation, paralytic ileus, and acute pancreatitisw16 are other reported complications.

janisj

darn - didn't mean to hit post . . .

anyway - above (and below) quoted from the BMJ

First aid
Initial management is to reassure, give paracetamol to control pain, and immobilise the whole patient (especially the bitten limb with a splint or sling) during urgent transport to hospital. Early anaphylactoid symptoms can be treated with an oral or parenteral H1 blocker or adrenaline (epinephrine) (Epi-Pen), depending on severity. Any interference with the wound should be avoided. Tourniquets, ligatures, and compression bandages should not be used.

Recovery
Children usually recover completely between less than a week and three weeks after the bite, but most adults take three weeks or longer, and a quarter take between one and nine months. During recovery, disabling aching and intermittent swelling of the bitten limb may occur.1

janisj

Now that we have you worried - don't worry. Yes, there are snakes in Scotland - but they are more afraid of you than you are of them. And you will see far fewer snakes there than on the trip you did have planned to Yosemite . . . . . .

caroline_edinburgh

I've only seen one snake in the UK in my entire life and that was in Cornwall. I've never heard of anyone being bitten by one.

MissPrism

I've been walking in the Highlands since Adam was a lad and have never seen an adder.
I'd rather like to as a matter of fact.
What you might see is a slow worm.
It looks very like a snake, but is in fact a legless lizard.
It's is quite harmless. In fact it is legless and 'armless.
Sorry!

nona1

You really don't need to freak out about snakes in the UK. In my entire life I've seen a couple of slow worms (the legless lizard) and one grass snake. I've never seen an adder, or known of anyone who has encountered one. They are very shy, not that numerous, and will take off if you come near - start poking one around and you might get bitten but otherwise it is extremely unlikely you will even get a glimpse of anything snakelike in years. See this for more balanced info http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1518699.stm and read just how rare and timid they are.

Heimdall

I have been in the UK for over 30 years, spend a lot of time in the countryside, and have never seen a snake anywhere. A few farmers put up signs saying "beware of adders", but IMO that is mainly to discourage the public from walking on their land. There are venomous snakes (adders) in Scotland, but you are very unlikely to see one, let alone being bitten. No one has died from an adder bite in the UK for over 20 years.

Kate

Born here and lived here all my, ahem, years, and have never seen a snake in the UK, and I certainly have never heard of anyone being bitten.

I'm still reeling from being bitten by a mosquito the other night. A mosquito! In London! Who'd have thought it! Perhaps it had followed me home from Italy.

BTilke

Last night, there was a show on BBC about adders in the UK. They're around, but venomous snakes here are both rare and shy. I wouldn't worry about it. They'll feel the vibrations of your steps and skedaddle long before you would see them.

Kate, what, no mosquitoes!? Of course they're around, we killed two in our bathroom last night. They need very little standing water to breed (sometimes as little as a couple of tablespoons) and you know it's certainly been warm enough Maybe the t-storms tonight and tomorrow will wash their breeding places away.

wasleys

I'm very surprised that so few people have seen adders in UK as there are plenty around in certain places. They seem to like dryish, often sandy areas and can often be seen in bracken, dry grass and heather. I have also seen several on dry roads and paths in forests.

As people have said adders are shy and will move away from you. The risk of contact is greatest when they are sunning themselves in the open and they may be drowsy. In areas such as those I have described it is a good idea to keep your eyes open on a warm day to make sure you don't step on one. If I suspect there may be adders around I do take care if walking through undergrowth where I can't see the ground and will go gently and scuff my feet a bit. I would also poke around in the grass/heather before sitting down for lunch!

The risk of being bitten is very small as is the risk of it being serious. However when walking it may be some hours before you could get medical attention so caution is worthwhile.

Dogs that are not on a lead are often at risk as they run about and may actually try to molest an adder they find.

UreOSceptic

'Twas ever thus.

From Panegyrici Latini VI, delivered to the Emperor Constantine at Trier in the year AD 310:

<i> Oh happy the land of Britain. A land in which neither the severity of winter nor the heat of summer is too great. In which there is such fecundity of crops as to supply the the gifts of both Ceres and Bacchus. In which there are forests without savage beasts and lands without venomous snakes. But rather there is a countless multitude of peaceful herds distended with milk and laden with fleeces&quot; </i>

Not, apparently, written by the Bordus Touristicus Britanniae. But a convoluted way of saying how clever Constantine had been to proclaim himself Emperor (1700 years ago this very month) in such a well-favoured island.

It seems to have got a bit hotter since. Otherwise, then as now, the only dangerous reptiles here work for (or are) the government.

caroline_edinburgh

Interesting UreOSceptic, although it was actually hotter here in Roman times.

noe847

Based the information from janisj, you'll cut your chances of being bitten by 50% if you don't try to pick up an adder, should you see one.