Adder - Notes

Adder - additional notes.

.....Preferring dry habitats with places to bask in the sun, particularly during the summer months where they will frequently stay resting until late evening. Apart from man, they have many other enemies including crows, gulls and birds of prey. They hibernate from October till the warmth of spring around April, choosing holes in the ground or by preference crevices in stone walls. Adders feed on lizards, frogs and many small rodents killed by a strike from their fangs. When struck, venom is injected into the wound and the victim quickly dies. Their bite although rarely fatal to humans, can be very unpleasant and it is important to seek medical attention. The adder will not attack if left alone, unless molested or trodden upon, and generally slides quickly away resenting disturbance. We tend our garden in their presence and take the precaution of wearing knee length boots. Weeding with bare hands can be hazardous as my wife will testify having experienced a close encounter and a near miss. Our dog has not been so lucky and having stepped on an irate female, suffered the consequence, namely a very swollen leg and foot and a quick trip to the local vet for treatment. Fortunately he recovered quickly but I'm not so sure about the adder, the 90 lb. weight of a dog combined with large claws may have inflicted a fatal wound.