![]() 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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