Norway Walking

Alan said:

Hi all, If anyone is coming to Norway walking in the near
future I should tell you that we are having what is known
locally as a " Høgorm År" this means that the numbers of
Adders are very high.

Funny you should mention that. I encountered an adder just a
few days ago in Devon. First time I've ever seen one.

Paul
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Quoted message said:

So any potential walkers keep an eye out.

for vandals destroying wildlife

Richard Webb

Just a small update,

In our local paper today there's a story about guy out
walking a few days ago and he saw 12 adders within the space
of 30 minutes!!

Some were around 50 to 60 cms.

He also noted that some of the snakes had not read the books
that say they are not aggressive, and were more than happy
to make it obvious they were up for a fight and that backing
down was not an option.

Tread carefully

Alan

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Alan said:

Hi all, If anyone is coming to Norway walking in the
near future I should tell you that we are having what is
known locally as a " Høgorm År" this means that the
numbers of Adders are very high.

Funny you should mention that. I encountered an adder just
a few days ago in Devon. First time I've ever seen one.

Paul
--
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"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Alan said:

Hi all, If anyone is coming to Norway walking in the
near future I should tell you that we are having what is
known locally as a " Høgorm År" this means that the
numbers of Adders are very high.

Funny you should mention that. I encountered an adder just
a few days ago in Devon. First time I've ever seen one.

Paul

Hello Paul,

I was down Port Eynon last weekend - took my youngest
camping for the night and whilst walking back from an early
morning stroll up past the Salt House we saw one on the path
in front of us. Little un wanted to pick it up but I had to
inform him that it might not be a good idea. I have seen one
resting amongst some rocks many years ago but this was the
1st time I had seen one in the open moving about freely.
Apparently the Gower and particularly Port Eynon is a
popular place to see them?

"RJ Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So any potential walkers keep an eye out.

for vandals destroying wildlife

Richard Webb

For snakes destroying wildlife? I can't help it - I hate
them and always have. Totally irrational but that's being
human for you.

KRO

AC said:

I was down Port Eynon last weekend - took my youngest
camping for the night and whilst walking back from an
early morning stroll up past the Salt House we saw one on
the path in front of us. Little un wanted to pick it up
but I had to inform him that it might not be a good idea.
I have seen one resting amongst some rocks many years ago
but this was the 1st time I had seen one in the open
moving about freely. Apparently the Gower and particularly
Port Eynon is a popular place to see them?

Don't know. Port Eynon used to be my second home, my parents
owned a caravan there for the first twenty years of my life.
Never seen an adder there.

I've seen quite a few small snakes in Gower over the years,
and a really big long green snake once, but no adders. Maybe
I just haven't been very observant.

If there's an epidemic starting then maybe I should be a bit
more careful in future. What should we watch out for? Long
grass, bracken or what?

Paul
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Alan said:

He also noted that some of the snakes had not read the
books that say they are not aggressive, and were more than
happy to make it obvious they were up for a fight and that
backing down was not an option.

I've encountered quite a few adders over the years in The
County, they are beautiful animals, we tend to get the
lighter, sandyier coloured variety. I've never provoked one
to the point where it would feel the need to defend
itself... lets face it, that's all its going to do because
even teeny weeny people are too big for them to eat!! ;-)

One of our guys was bitten about two years ago... got home
after a day's climbing, though his ankle was a little bit
sore, slight redness, itchy, eventually went to A&E to have
it confirmed that he'd been bitten (tiny wee puncture
marks). Doc also confirmed that because it had been so long
since he'd taken the bite that anti-venin wouldn't be of any
use. Told to "keep an eye on things", went home with
itchyness being the sum total of the effects for him.

The same guy, about five years ago had a closer encouter...
on a hard climb, overcomes the difficulties to proceed to a
less than vertical section with a big pocket/ hold that he
could rest and get himself back together again.... still
about 4m from the top... sigh of relief as he pulls on the
pocket, looks inside... and sees an adder inside looking as
surprised as him!! Yes its true to say that he didn't didn't
hang around to admire the view!!! We larfed ;-)

Yes, under extreme circumstances adder bites can be a
problem but those circumstances are extreme.

This time of year they'll be coming out of hibernation,
grumpy because of that, will be hungry, and possibly still
cold so give them a wide berth; admire them as you walk
past... they're no real threat to you or I.

SteveO

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Quoted message said:

For snakes destroying wildlife? I can't help it - I hate
them and always have. Totally irrational but that's being
human for you.

You can hate them as long as you like.. All you have to do
is walk away..

I enjoy seeing them.. Now the midge... No Mercy!
Totally Rational!

Richard Webb

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

For snakes destroying wildlife? I can't help it - I hate
them and always have. Totally irrational but that's being
human for you.

You can hate them as long as you like.. All you have to do
is walk away..

I enjoy seeing them.. Now the midge... No Mercy! Totally
Rational!

I've yet to see my first snake in the UK other than in
vivaria, but I don't think I'd be scared if I bumped into
one whilst out because I'd expect it to feel my footsteps
long before I had a chance to get too close. That's
probably *why* I've yet to see it! Midges? Flying ants?
Gnats? I agree, they'd not get any mercy from me either.
Snakes have never hurt me and probably never will; small
flying beasties with 'teeth', OTOH... <Dalek> Exterminate!
Exterminate! </Dalek>
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.

Quoted message said:

I've yet to see my first snake in the UK other than in
vivaria, but I don't think I'd be scared if I bumped into
one whilst out because I'd expect it to feel my footsteps
long before I had a chance to get too close.

You usually get to see a tail disappearing fast into the
heather... Cold mornings can be good, they curl up in a
sunny spot getting warmed up.

Best one I saw was a grass snake at Sandhurst during an
orienteering event.. sunny bank, thought to my self "Snake
country watch out" and there it was. I normally only see
adders, would love to see a smooth snake.

Lovely cratures but frightening.. I sometimes jump at the
first sight of a sinuous twig - its instinctive. Still love
to see them though.

Never seen a snake in Norway!

Richard Webb

"Fran" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I've yet to see my first snake in the UK other than in
vivaria, but I don't think I'd be scared if I bumped into
one whilst out because I'd expect it to feel my footsteps
long before I had a chance to get too close. That's
probably *why* I've yet to see it!

I've seen a few snakes around. My girlfriend trod on one
once. Can't remember what sort it was now. Don't think I was
close enough to see but it made her do an hilarious dance.

In article <[email hidden]>,
Fran <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I've yet to see my first snake in the UK other than in
vivaria, but I don't think I'd be scared if I bumped into
one whilst out because I'd expect it to feel my footsteps
long before I had a chance to get too close.

You must get Paul to show you his recent photo of an Adder.
--
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