Vocal Voices

The man was bitten three times in Dalby Forest. N. Yorks. The adder was taken by air ambulance to Middlesborough James Cook Hospital where it is said to be in a serious but stable condition.

It's the other way round, but I think it works better my way.

Poor chap, hope he is ok! I once worked for the Forestry Commission in York, in the offices as a clerical officer. Only for 6 months providing maternity cover, but we had a day out in Cropton forest, looking at the work the foresters did. Halfway across a field one of us asked the forester why he was wearing thigh length boots "For the snakes" was the reply Cue much squealing and picking up of feet

@ Kaz!

There were woods near where we lived on the Dorset / Somerset border where you were advised to keep out during the spring season, when the adder population were waking up after hibernation .....

There was also a fair bit of consternation near here a few years back when they widened the West Coast Main Line through Staffordshire - and the disruption from the earthworks caused the adder population in the railway embankments around Lichfield to relocate into the gardens of neighbouring houses!

Oooh blimey!

Adder bites are usually no worse than a bee sting unless you are unlucky enough to be allergic, but I suppose three bites like Frank mentioned, could make you pretty poorly

Yes I should imagine 3 bites would be pretty nasty, one is enough to kill a small-medium dog.
We're always careful, you may remember I posted a pic a couple of years ago of one basking in the Spring sunshine, right by the sea wall path.
Obviously there are plenty in the Forest, also where I grew up there were plenty. They do tend to come out on sunny days and curl up on the side of a path - and when the paths are really narrow, through beds of heather, not easy to spot or avoid.

I was surprised when reading comments from Nat Park Wardens, Forestry Commission workers and walkers about how numerous adders are. They are apparently shy, and that's why we think they are rare, but they are all over the place in the great outdoors.

Oh yes, they don't wear those long rubber boots for the fun of it

Not just adders, there are ticks too - especially in the New Forest but elsewhere as well, carriers of Lyme disease which is no fun at all.
You really shouldn't go out onto moors/heathland in flimsy sandals, you need proper shoes, socks at least, and very preferably long trousers. When Minnie was young and having great long walks/runs, it was really wet one summer so we were out in shorts and wellies

Joking aside we were all in jeans/trainers, no skirts or sandals. It was the office staff on a day out to see what the foresters actually did. It was a beautiful forest, stunning views across the N Yorks Moors

Ticks are vile things, my MIL's westie, Zoe, got one while D was looking after her a couple of years back and Becky went to the vet with her to have it removed. Yucky horrid things

No, I just meant people in general Kaz, you see them out in the Forest all the time, adults and children in shorts and sandals - they should at least have 'proper' shoes on

Ticks are disgusting and mostly the anti-tick treatments are a waste of money, especially when the dog gets wet a lot.
Obviously Minnie doesn't have the great long walks/runs any more but we were always inspecting her all over and getting the horrid things off her