8/6/2023 0 Comments Constrictor snakes in englandThey have a round pupil and have a green back with dark bars. Grass snakes are the largest in Britain, reaching up to approximately 1.3 metres. Two other species of snake are native to Britain: the grass snake ( Natrix helvetica) and the smooth snake ( Coronella austriaca). 'It's better not to use a tourniquet and to just immobilise the affected limb with a splint or sling for an adder bite - it may be different in the case of a more dangerous snake attack abroad.' What other reptiles are found in Britain? It will lead to the venom concentrating in one part of the body and could end up destroying the flesh in that area. Patrick says, 'Using a tourniquet to isolate the bite to some may feel sensible but in actual fact will probably only make matters worse. Victims of a snakebite should seek immediate medical attention and try to remember a description of the snake seen to help medical professionals identify the species - but don't try and catch it. They also have keeled scales - rather than being smooth, they have a raised ridge down their centre. These snakes have a slit pupil (similar to a cat's) instead of a round one. They have a distinctive, darker zigzag pattern down the middle of their backs and a clear V or X marking on the top of the head. They vary in colour: males are usually grey and females reddish, although there are some that are entirely black (melanistic form). But if you find them, they'll often slither away rapidly and are likely to strike out only if provoked or picked up.'Īdders, also known as European vipers, have distinctive features that make them identifiable next to other British snake species.Īdders have stocky bodies, reaching a maximum length of approximately one metre. 'They tend to favour hiding under things for safety, to keep warm or to escape the heat - unless they're out basking directly in the Sun. 'You often have to upturn logs and discarded metallic objects, which are good conductors of heat, to find them,' explains Patrick. They need to be warm in order to be active. The body temperature of snakes is regulated externally by sunning or retreating to cool. More bites occur in the summer as British snakes hibernate through winter, when people are also less active and wearing heavier clothing and footwear. Adders are mainly found on heathlands, commons and woodland. Antivenom is rarely needed but should be considered in severe cases.'īritish snakes are usually solitary, shy animals that prefer to flee than fight. 'However, in any case of suspected adder bite, immediate medical attention is needed, primarily to avoid infection around the wound. It is not an aggressive snake, but quite shy and reclusive. An adder won't chase you - there are stories, perhaps fanciful, of black mambas in Africa pursuing people, but the adder is not like this. It's safe to observe them respectfully from a distance, but just don't go picking them up and they will leave you alone. Between 19 there was only one death caused by an adder bite across England and Wales.īees and wasps are more dangerous, causing 61 deaths over the same period.įor those who see a snake in the wild in Britain, Patrick says, 'The best advice would be: don't aggravate it. The last in Britain occurred in 1975, when a five-year-old was bitten on the ankle in Scotland. 'Children, the infirm and the elderly are most at risk.'įatalities from adder bites are exceptionally rare. Some who may be less fortunate may suffer an allergic reaction, but it generally isn't going to kill you. It will hurt and swell for a few days and you may have feelings of nausea and dizziness. 'There have been a few incidents over the years, but for those who are in good health, you're not going to die from a bite.
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