Adders- Dartmoor and Exmoor

[rivers]

Right, adders, the UK's only venomous snake. I have a fear of snakes. How prevalent are they on Dartmoor and Exmoor? Any precautions I should take?

[faustus]

Google tells me the last human adder death in the UK was 1975, to avoid bites (very very unlikely indeed) just look where you put your feet/tyres. They actively avoid human noise and disturbance, and have poor eyesight, they're not going to come near you if you're sleeping out. Not sure on prevalence in Dartmoor but it's the right habitat for them.

[Dean]

I have only seen three snakes while out and about; two adders and one grass snake. The rumble of tyres caused the snakes to seek cover quickly.

[Fat tyre kicker]

Dogs have been bitten in a country park not far from me,they’ve had to put
Warning signs up for them

Edit…obviously the signs aren’t for the dogs or the snakes

[Bearbonesnorm]

I'm not a big snake person but seeing them wild in the UK is quite exciting. I (just) managed to snap a pic of this fella a few years ago, biggest grass snake I've ever seen.

[lune ranger]

Adders on Dartmoor = yes
Chance of seeing one = very low.

It’s the ticks you should be worried about, that and the Hairy Hand.

[slarge]

Adders on Dartmoor = yes
Chance of seeing one = very low.

It’s the ticks you should be worried about, that and the Hairy Hand.

I thought the werewolves killed the hairy hand

[lune ranger]

S’not a werewolf we have anyway… it’s a diabolical hound of supernatural origins

[fatbikephil]

Biggest danger is to mistake one for a bootlace lying across the track and running it over. I've had three very close shaves (or rather the adders did) with only a frantic last second bunny(snake?) hop saving the day. I've twice stopped to poke the camera at them at close range which someone told me wasn't a good idea, but in both cases the snake slid off sharpish.
I suspect the chances of one snuggling up to you in your bivvy is pretty much zero

[Lazarus]

Hate snakes and my only encounter was one basking in the road[Wales] - oddly it was not at all scary as all it did was slither away when it realised there were humans

the changes of one choosing to interact with humans is nil - or we would all have seen them loads of times

[Dean]

Upon further reflection I would have far more concern for my well being regarding cows when out on two wheels.

[samwise]

Adders are the least of your worries according to the BBC!

BBC News - Snakebites becoming more common in the UK
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62213080

A cobra is no match for the hairy hand though.

[BigdummySteve]

I thought the werewolves killed the hairy hand

Wow, hardcore AND well dressed!

[anagallis_arvensis]

A mate of mine saw an Adder on Greenham Common (nowhere near Dartmoor). It was on the trail so he picked it up to move it and it bit him . He has to go to hospital but was fine...He has had a lot of piss taking since then