Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms BEWARE of Snakes

On Tuesday morning on my normal dog walk / training session my Springer Spaniel (Cassie) while hunting for tennis balls in the long grass was bitten by a Adder on her back leg under the pad. This is the same place we go every morning so BEWARE they are waking up. Fortunately a swift visit to my vet and she is recovering well but slowly. She ran back to me sat down and started licking her foot I thought she had trod on a nettle but a few minutes later she had slowed right down and could hardly walk, this is when I realised it was probably a snake bite and rushed to the vet.

Glad you caught her on time.

Blmey Keith - it's lucky you realised what had happened. My son (who you probably remember from our Le Mans excursions) has 5 of the blighters - three venomous and two constrictors. I don't mind handling the constrictors but draw the line at the venomous ones!

Bad luck adders are normally more scared of us, but I guess just waking up is dangerous.
I was once in an indian reservation in Arizona & by the path was a sign beware nesting rattle snakes

The biggest adder I've seen was on the coast path near Salcombe. t least when basking in the open you have a chance, because they instinctively coil to strike. That one was a couple of feet I suppose, but I wasn't looking down so could have stepped on it, were it not for the "SNAKE!" shout!

We've seen a few others but all like pencils, and are quite cute as they coil their six inches to strike.

I think this one struck as Cassie ran past it as the fang marks were on her pads, bloody things there are so many in Essex.

Just back from Botswana - puff adder outside my lodge on Monday night.

Now they are nasty

I did a Cobra snake charming course in Agra in the early 80s.
Actually truth was I had too much to drink and I convinced the snake charmer to let me have a go ! I thought they must take their poisonous fangs out, don’t they……
MM

Whilst working in RSA as it was in 1973 we had company Ford F250 4x4 trucks for transport for some of our remoter outstations.

One winters morning I was doing an under bonnet check and nearly shat myself as I disturbed a Cape Cobra enjoying a doze atop the warm V8 from the night before, lid slowly closed and engine started. It wasn't there after the 200 miles and two pit stops so must have decided dirt roads at 70 weren't his thing.
It was at least 10 ' long we reckoned and hooded up when he saw us a magnificent creature for sure.

There are so many adders in our area and in particular on Dartmoor.