Snakes in Surrey
24 May 2002, 02:15 PM
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I do a lot of Mountainbike riding off road in the West End, Bagshot,Bracknell, Windlesham areas of Surrey.
This year the place seems to be crawling in snakes.
Im 36 and until this year I'd only ever seen one in Scotland as a kid.
This year since February I've seen 4!
1. On a bridleway between West End and Brookwood.
2. On a bridleway behind West End village on the way towards the
firing range.
3. On the top of the place known as 'The Point' in Swinley Forest.
4. On a forest path about 0.5 miles from Vicarage Road in Bagshot
(Swinley Forest again).
The last one I saw, I actually ran over (accidentally of course) as it looked like a piece of wood - until it moved.
I went back to check and it was fine, although it didn't move around much because I was there.
Anyone else seen any?
This year the place seems to be crawling in snakes.
Im 36 and until this year I'd only ever seen one in Scotland as a kid.
This year since February I've seen 4!
1. On a bridleway between West End and Brookwood.
2. On a bridleway behind West End village on the way towards the
firing range.
3. On the top of the place known as 'The Point' in Swinley Forest.
4. On a forest path about 0.5 miles from Vicarage Road in Bagshot
(Swinley Forest again).
The last one I saw, I actually ran over (accidentally of course) as it looked like a piece of wood - until it moved.
I went back to check and it was fine, although it didn't move around much because I was there.
Anyone else seen any?
24 May 2002, 03:59 PM
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"I do a lot of Mountainbike riding off road in the West End, Bagshot,Bracknell, Windlesham areas of Surrey."
Hey - me too!!
Well, Pirbright Common and Tunnel Hill areas mainly... I was out there last night (though it was a bit chilly) doin' my regular 13 miler.
Not seen any snakes though. Plenty of deer and foxes
Always looking for fresh paths. We ought to exchange route info...
oops - double post...
[Edited by uncle buck - 5/24/2002 4:01:31 PM]
Hey - me too!!
Well, Pirbright Common and Tunnel Hill areas mainly... I was out there last night (though it was a bit chilly) doin' my regular 13 miler.Not seen any snakes though. Plenty of deer and foxes
Always looking for fresh paths. We ought to exchange route info...
oops - double post...
[Edited by uncle buck - 5/24/2002 4:01:31 PM]
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24 May 2002, 05:31 PM
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Dracoro: They were all adders. They are pretty easy to identify.
uncle buck: Drop me your email address and I will mail you my route, captured via GPS. I usually do about 20-30 miles, and it's pretty hard going, I love the hills (going up particularly) as it's a real challenge on some of the Swinley Forest climbs.
You could join us Sunday if you like. We always do that run on Sunday, and 2 out of the last 5 runs we've seen snakes!!
uncle buck: Drop me your email address and I will mail you my route, captured via GPS. I usually do about 20-30 miles, and it's pretty hard going, I love the hills (going up particularly) as it's a real challenge on some of the Swinley Forest climbs.
You could join us Sunday if you like. We always do that run on Sunday, and 2 out of the last 5 runs we've seen snakes!!
24 May 2002, 05:35 PM
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Dracoro: Found a nice pic of an adder for you.
http://www.lincstrust.co.uk/species/amphibia/adder.html
For some reason the second of the two pictures looks more like the ones I've seen.
http://www.lincstrust.co.uk/species/amphibia/adder.html
For some reason the second of the two pictures looks more like the ones I've seen.
27 May 2002, 10:59 AM
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Last year I found one with its head stuck in the netting for my pond... back of its head ripped out where it tried to get free.
It was about 3feet long.. so a grass snake I am pretty sure.
We then had a small snake visiting the pond all summer and bathing in it.. not sure whether it was grass or Adder as it was very quick and left if you got near it.
Went on a walking holiday over Easter and saw a number of snakes in Dartmoor.. my 18month old daughter goes in a back pack on my back and spotted this adder before I did and went "sssss SSSSS ssss" I thought she must be messing about.. no she had seen an adder and it just sat there and hissed at us..
We then walked off and my daughter did her "more" statement...
no darling I think one is enough.
But we still saw one later on ... walking along and my wife said mind the snake.. I stopped walking and said "what snake I cannot see one".... "the one that is under your foot" "arrgggghhh"
dunno if that was a grass snake or adder I legged it too quickly.
JGM
It was about 3feet long.. so a grass snake I am pretty sure.
We then had a small snake visiting the pond all summer and bathing in it.. not sure whether it was grass or Adder as it was very quick and left if you got near it.
Went on a walking holiday over Easter and saw a number of snakes in Dartmoor.. my 18month old daughter goes in a back pack on my back and spotted this adder before I did and went "sssss SSSSS ssss" I thought she must be messing about.. no she had seen an adder and it just sat there and hissed at us..
We then walked off and my daughter did her "more" statement...
no darling I think one is enough.
But we still saw one later on ... walking along and my wife said mind the snake.. I stopped walking and said "what snake I cannot see one".... "the one that is under your foot" "arrgggghhh"
dunno if that was a grass snake or adder I legged it too quickly.
JGM
27 May 2002, 11:30 AM
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Lee,
Adders are yes... seek medical attention (hospital) ASAP if bitten.... grass snakes are harmless...
Or is it the other way around? (joke!)
If they have a V on the back of the head then it is an Adder.
Just leave all alone..
JGM
Adders are yes... seek medical attention (hospital) ASAP if bitten.... grass snakes are harmless...
Or is it the other way around? (joke!)
If they have a V on the back of the head then it is an Adder.
Just leave all alone..
JGM
27 May 2002, 01:38 PM
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All this talk of snakes on the trail brings a whole new meaning to the term Bunny Hop! Perhaps it should be re-named.
I've been 'reliably informed' that Adders are no more poisonous than wasps, so hospital treatment isn't usually necessary. I'm not convinced though...
I've been 'reliably informed' that Adders are no more poisonous than wasps, so hospital treatment isn't usually necessary. I'm not convinced though...
27 May 2002, 01:53 PM
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NENO: Tell that to the people that died ;-)
I got the following off a medical website:-
Since 1900, 12 deaths have been directly attributed to adder bites in Britain and one further death (in 1957 (age 13)), was attributable to adverse reaction to "Pasteur" anti-venom (which is no longer used in cases of snake bite) that was administered to a patient who had been bitten. These deaths occurred in the following years: 1901 (age 4), 1903 (x2) (age 3 and?), 1912 (adult), 1913 (age?), 1932 (age 51), 1934 (age 6), 1941 (x 2) (age? and?), 1961 (age 12), 1975 (age 5). The last death was of a 5 year old boy, who was bitten on the ankle, in Perthshire on 1 July 1975. He died some 43 hours after being bitten.
I got the following off a medical website:-
Since 1900, 12 deaths have been directly attributed to adder bites in Britain and one further death (in 1957 (age 13)), was attributable to adverse reaction to "Pasteur" anti-venom (which is no longer used in cases of snake bite) that was administered to a patient who had been bitten. These deaths occurred in the following years: 1901 (age 4), 1903 (x2) (age 3 and?), 1912 (adult), 1913 (age?), 1932 (age 51), 1934 (age 6), 1941 (x 2) (age? and?), 1961 (age 12), 1975 (age 5). The last death was of a 5 year old boy, who was bitten on the ankle, in Perthshire on 1 July 1975. He died some 43 hours after being bitten.
27 May 2002, 02:01 PM
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Info -->
The Adder is Britain's only venomous snake and uses venom for catching prey, usually small mammals and lizards. They are very timid animals and usually move away quickly when disturbed, but will bite in defence if trodden upon or handled. If bitten, medical assistance should be sought, but statistically one stands more chance of dying from a bee or wasp sting than an Adder bite.
Take from Here
What it doesn't say though is whether the statistically less change of dying is with or without treatment.
More Info -->
The book at home said ‘venom is effective when it reaches the blood stream and can be swallowed with impunity’, but this, as I was to find out, just wasn’t so.
Ninety minutes on from the bite we are off to the cottage hospital and we’re beginning to get a little delirious. I’m in control, but this is getting a little worrying, am I going to be a statistic soon? My body says ‘what’s going on, I can’t cope’ and succumbs to shock. The doctor injects antihistamine. I have to be impolite and rush away to the loo, and thankfully, its nearby.
Later the anti-venom arrives, another tube and with my arm raised in a sling I’m wheeled away to sleep. Throughout the evening the curious come to see a snake bite victim, their first, and others make marks on my arm as the tide of anti-venom forces the poison and the redness into retreat.
Even more worrying :
In the UK adders bite over 100 people each year but there have only been a dozen deaths and some of these have resulted from the anti-venom.
Taken from : here
JGM
[Edited by Jolly Green Monster 2 - 27/05/2002 14:03:54]
The Adder is Britain's only venomous snake and uses venom for catching prey, usually small mammals and lizards. They are very timid animals and usually move away quickly when disturbed, but will bite in defence if trodden upon or handled. If bitten, medical assistance should be sought, but statistically one stands more chance of dying from a bee or wasp sting than an Adder bite.
Take from Here
What it doesn't say though is whether the statistically less change of dying is with or without treatment.
More Info -->
The book at home said ‘venom is effective when it reaches the blood stream and can be swallowed with impunity’, but this, as I was to find out, just wasn’t so.
Ninety minutes on from the bite we are off to the cottage hospital and we’re beginning to get a little delirious. I’m in control, but this is getting a little worrying, am I going to be a statistic soon? My body says ‘what’s going on, I can’t cope’ and succumbs to shock. The doctor injects antihistamine. I have to be impolite and rush away to the loo, and thankfully, its nearby.
Later the anti-venom arrives, another tube and with my arm raised in a sling I’m wheeled away to sleep. Throughout the evening the curious come to see a snake bite victim, their first, and others make marks on my arm as the tide of anti-venom forces the poison and the redness into retreat.
Even more worrying :
In the UK adders bite over 100 people each year but there have only been a dozen deaths and some of these have resulted from the anti-venom.
Taken from : here
JGM
[Edited by Jolly Green Monster 2 - 27/05/2002 14:03:54]
27 May 2002, 02:21 PM
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Sheepsplitter, it's a fair point. I stuck it in inverted commers because although I was told by a Countryside Ranger I felt sure some people would have died from being bitten.
After all plenty of people have died from wasp stings and that's universally thought not to be too bad. Don't fancy being bitten by a snake or you for that matter LOL
After all plenty of people have died from wasp stings and that's universally thought not to be too bad. Don't fancy being bitten by a snake or you for that matter LOL
27 May 2002, 02:45 PM
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NENO: I wonder if it's because more people get stung by wasps/bees and are allergic to them and die?
If only 100 people a year get bitten by a snake and 1% (say) die from it then 1 person per year might die.
If 500,000 people get stung by bees/wasps and only 0.001% die then we would have 5 deaths per year.
Who knows.
It's easy to see how the stats are 'managed', but realistically I think most of us would prefer a bee sting to an Adder bite :-)
Hope my maths is right BTW.
Anyway I am taking a camera around with me for future runs and I will post any pictures I get onto ScoobyNet.
To be honest I am quite happy to see them, it's nice to think we have an improving nature population in this day and age.
If only 100 people a year get bitten by a snake and 1% (say) die from it then 1 person per year might die.
If 500,000 people get stung by bees/wasps and only 0.001% die then we would have 5 deaths per year.
Who knows.
It's easy to see how the stats are 'managed', but realistically I think most of us would prefer a bee sting to an Adder bite :-)
Hope my maths is right BTW.
Anyway I am taking a camera around with me for future runs and I will post any pictures I get onto ScoobyNet.
To be honest I am quite happy to see them, it's nice to think we have an improving nature population in this day and age.
27 May 2002, 02:48 PM
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Sheepsplitter,
Improving nature is good, but I have to say I'd rather it was say fish or frogs rather than Adders...
Also the Adders will eat more mice etc.. mind you with any luck they might eat Rats which never seem to be in short supply.
JGM
Improving nature is good, but I have to say I'd rather it was say fish or frogs rather than Adders...
Also the Adders will eat more mice etc.. mind you with any luck they might eat Rats which never seem to be in short supply.
JGM
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