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| Adders are found on Cannock Chase |
Countryside visitors asked to spare a thought for threatened adder
Visitors to the countryside are being urged help protect one of Staffordshire's threatened native species.
Adders are Britain's only poisonous snakes. They can be found on Cannock Chase but are rare in other areas of the county.
And while it is very rare for people to be bitten, August is the most likely time for it to happen simply because of the rise in people visiting the countryside during the summer holidays. One Stafford resident needed hospital treatment after being bitten near Milford Common on the Chase last week.
John Wakefield, the county council's Cabinet Member responsible for countryside management said: "Bites are rare, serious reactions are even rarer, and visitors to the countryside can reduce their chances of being bitten to an absolute minimum. You should take simple precautions like keeping to paths where possible, avoid undergrowth and never attempt to touch a snake if you do come across one. Walking in long grass with bare feet or wearing flip-flops is also advised against."
"Adders are not aggressive and they will avoid people if at all possible. Most bites are the result of accidents when people surprise or frighten an adder, typically by treading on it, and we understand that something similar may have happened at Milford Common last week. There have been no deaths in the UK as a result of adder bites in over 30 years, and you have far more chance of suffering a serious reaction from a wasp sting."
"The important things are not to let fear of adders put you off visiting the countryside and not to demonise the snakes, because they have far more reason to be afraid of people."
In fact, a 2004 study by Natural England revealed that adder numbers are declining generally, but especially rapidly in the West Midlands region, largely as a result of habitat destruction.
Cllr Wakefield said: "This makes protected habitats like Cannock Chase even more important. Adders are a natural part of the eco-system and we should value them as an important part of our environment. It is also important to remember that adders are protected by law and that anyone deliberately harming one is committing a criminal offence.
"The county council and our partners have gone to tremendous lengths in protect the threatened plants and animals of Staffordshire in recent years, and adders are an important native species that deserve respect and consideration."
Some facts about adders:
- The last fatality from an adder bite in the UK was in 1975
- More people are injured being hit by golf balls than adder bites
- The venom of a the adder is designed to kill tiny prey such as voles and small frogs
- Adders are preyed upon by hedgehogs, badgers, foxes and owls
How to recognise an adder:
Adults can reach two feet in length and have a distinctive continuous zigzag along the length of the back. Males are usually grey or grey-brown with black markings, females usually brown or red-brown with dark brown markings. Occasionally they are all black.
For advice on what to do if bitten by an adder:
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=626§ionId=1 Page Last Modified:
06/08/2008 08:22:08
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