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Cretinous BBC press item:

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Wolfgang Wuster
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Joined: 23 Apr 2003
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Posted: 30 Mar 2006
Walker bitten fending off snake

A dog owner who was bitten by a snake during a morning walk did not seek treatment until he collapsed at home.

Paramedics were called to the man's house in Canvey Island, Essex, at lunchtime.

He was taken to Southend Hospital for treatment after his condition had been stablised at the scene, said an Essex Ambulance Service spokesman.

It it believed the 29-year-old was bitten after his dog picked up an adder.

Emergency care practitioner Deena Duce said: "The man tried to get it away from his dog and was bitten by the snake in the process.

"He went home and it wasn't until this afternoon, when he stood up and then collapsed, that an ambulance was called.

"He was briefly unconscious, and his left arm and hand were very swollen and painful."


**** end quote ****

I have written to them and pointed out that a headline such as "Out of control dog injures protected species" would be more appropriate. Perhaps more of us should do this.

As a matter of curiosity, if a dog owner does allow a dog to injure or kill an adder, is he/she liable to prosecution under the Wildlife and Countryside Act?

Cheers,

Wolfgang
Wolfgang Wüster
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor
http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/
Alan Hyde
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


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Posted: 30 Mar 2006
Thanks for the info Wolfgang, i'm going to write to them too.
O-> O+>
Suzi
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Joined: 06 Apr 2005
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Posted: 30 Mar 2006

I often see dogs rampaging along the edge of heathland tracks in exactly the places where adders like to bask. Most people I'm sure would never consider there might be adders lying out. As has been mentioned before on this forum noticeboards advising the presence of adders can have the negative effect of people going  along armed ready to kill any that are seen.

A friend's dog died of an adder bite 15 years ago and the poor dog did not have a quick and painless end.


Suz
Wolfgang Wuster
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Joined: 23 Apr 2003
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View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster
Posted: 30 Mar 2006
The only cure would be to fence off the most sensitive areas, and to oblige dog owners to keep their mutts on a lead, without specifying the real reason ("rare ground-nesting birds" might get more sympathy than adders).

Since dog owners routinely ignore "keep on lead" signs, I'd go for fences for the main spring lying-out areas, as well as those for gravid females in August/September.

Cheers,

Wolfgang
Wolfgang Wüster
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor
http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/
GemmaJF
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Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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View other posts by GemmaJF
Posted: 30 Mar 2006

I think the point is that the headline "Walker Bitten Fending Off Snake" gives a false impression that it was the adder that was behaving agressively not the dog. Doesn't it sound from the headline that the snake made the first move?

It would have been more useful if the BBC had taken the opportunity to highlight the non-agressive nature of the adder when left alone and given the public a little advice regarding the under used device known as a 'lead' for their dogs, particularly at this time of year. Might also have been sensible to have advised the public that if they are bitten by a snake they ought to seek medical attention immediately, not wait until they fall over. Last thing we need is a human UK adder death.

And before anyone says well how could the dog walker know adder were around.. we get reports in the press most years from the Southend area regarding adder bites. (Local radio reported the incident happened in Southend)

We have a dog, he's taken into areas where adder are abundant, common sense says keep him on the paths and on a lead. The only time either Merv myself or our dog have been injured in the field was when Zeb was attacked by a group of out of control dogs that we had to fend off.. Merv ended up in hospital with a bite wound through the middle of a finger joint.. very nasty.


Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
GemmaJF
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Posted: 30 Mar 2006
Wolfgang, I'm not sure exactly where this happened, but if it was on the seawall we would be looking at fencing of maybe 350 miles of habitat. I agree though that at nature reserves and country parks fencing would be a very good idea to keep dogs away from adder.
Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
Alan Hyde
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Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


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Posted: 30 Mar 2006
I'm quite a regular at my Brookwood site and because of this i'm seeing the same dog walkers each time.
Even though the owners know what I am doing they still allow their dogs a free run and they often come bounding up to me while i'm observing adders. Only a few days ago myself and Paul were out there, I pointed out three adders grouped together (Cold and Sluggish) , and as Paul was marking with GPS and writing notes these two dogs were bouncing around him in circles .

I definitely agree that fencing should be put up and if anyone asks it's there to protect ground nesting birds.

O-> O+>
GemmaJF
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Posted: 30 Mar 2006

Hi Al, I went to some trouble to survey a local nature reserve a couple of years ago and recommended fencing around an area used by gravid females. I explained it should be passed off as an area of 'heathland regeneration'..

It's the first cover you find when you arrive at the car park, so dogs and toddlers head straight for it. I've seen people drag toddlers to it for a quick wee. 2 years on still no fencing....


Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
-LAF
Senior Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 317


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Posted: 30 Mar 2006
"The only cure would be to fence off the most sensitive areas, and to oblige dog owners to keep their mutts on a lead, without specifying the real reason"

Nah, Claymores (the American ones, not the Scotts).
 
Lee Fairclough
herpetologic2
Senior Member
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
No. of posts: 1369


View other posts by herpetologic2
Posted: 30 Mar 2006

 

Canvey Island - Seawalls on the south of the Island are largely unsuitable for adders - maybe the north seawalls - The West of the Island has a site where over 100 adders were moved last year. This was from a site considered to be the least important part for wildlife within a major new development (add to that 2,500 lizards!) - still we now have a new SSSI Canvey Wick - promoted by Buglife, English Nature etc....sorry got side tracked

The old marshes have good populations of adders - the Essex group was unaware of this story - we will have to look at getting some more positive news for the poor adders -

JC

 


Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant -
visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife
herpetologic2
Senior Member
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
No. of posts: 1369


View other posts by herpetologic2
Posted: 30 Mar 2006

 

Another thing try asking land managers (ie at the Scottish Reserve - gem knows the person) to place fences apparently it draws attention to the adders!

JC


Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant -
visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife
Alan Hyde
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


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Posted: 30 Mar 2006
I think fencing has worked at Frensham, i've not seen anyone (aside from myself) nosing around within the fenced area.
O-> O+>
Chris Monk
Senior Member
Joined: 21 Apr 2004
No. of posts: 157


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Posted: 30 Mar 2006

I am afraid the majority of dog owners consider their animals never cause any problems and don't need to be on a lead in the countryside despite the fact that they are rampaging through the vegetation disturbing any wildlife in the vicinity.

When the CROW Act made the Peak District Moors Open Access, the first thing the National Park had to do with their two wildlife sanctuary areas (where the adders are found) was to remove all the signs asking people to keep to the designated paths. They did put signs up asking dog owners to keep their pets on a lead because of ground nesting birds. I have never seen a single person put their dog on a lead on the site, except in some cases where they are uncertain about other approaching people with dogs. Throwing sticks out into the heather/bracken or into the small moorland pools for the dogs to chase is a favourite activity.

(The Peak Park Estate staff previously had removed the beware of adders signs as it was decreed they gave a negative message that wasn't welcoming to visitors)


Chris
Derbyshire Amphibian & Reptile Group
www.derbyshirearg.co.uk
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


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Posted: 23 Apr 2006
Pity there arn't more dogs like my Dan; he is used to puff adders now, and cobras; its the tortoises that appear to confuse him (meat pies? )

Just a note during 2002 there were 55 cases of adder bites to dogs in Purbeck area; one was fatal - a 15yr dachsund that had a weak heart anyway.

Dog owners are like horse riders; asserting their rights etc etc.
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
Paul Williams
Member
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
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Posted: 26 Apr 2006

Ive been finding this year the number of people disturbing hides and trampling through the adder habitat at my local reserve is daft ive also noted the distinct lack of owners keeping dogs on leads and its really very anoying to put it mildly would any of you have any suggestions to help deal with this?


Robert V
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Joined: 06 Aug 2004
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Posted: 01 May 2006

Sorry all, I haven't any constructive ideas, but I'd like to tell the BBC what i think, if you have an address? Also, it seems to me (paranoia creeping in) that if a dog walker spots someone with a camera or studying an area, they appear to want to target you with the dog. I had a weirdo dog walker last year go past me as I shot Grassies in a small pond. What did he do? He picked up something for the dog to chase and chucked it in the pond...... its a very difficult problem to solve as you are dealing with people of a different mind set!

R


RobV
Robert V
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Joined: 06 Aug 2004
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Posted: 01 May 2006
PS. Of course, there is one way of ensuring this doesn't happen. A lottery funded buy up of all the best sites on behalf of some reptile trust and ban dog walking on those sites? Any good? R
RobV
Suzi
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Joined: 06 Apr 2005
No. of posts: 860


View other posts by Suzi
Posted: 01 May 2006

I've lost count of the number of times whilst sat watching birds and dragonflies around a pond someone has come along and thrown a stick in for Fido to encourage him into the water. The pond then gets a good churning and water vegetation is trampled and broken. The overall damage is probably minimal but I find it very thick skinned of owners to encourage their dogs to rampage when it is obvious that someone is watching wildlife.

I know some of you have dogs and I've no wish to paint all dog owners with the same brush but to many the countryside is just somewhere to exercise dogs. Full stop.

Unfortunately the more access you give people the worse it is for nature.


Suz
Morpheus
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
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View other posts by Morpheus
Posted: 01 May 2006
I hate dogs, over a few years i`ve rescured 2 frogs with injuries consisting of exsploded lungs, brocken arms, raveged legs, and various gashes along the back . one had his hind legs snapped and small cuts, what happened next horryfied me, the skin deteriated and the bone came out, so i took him to the vets but all they did was give him to the wildlife trust and said they would ring me though they never did. the other one sadly died...
Also, i have spotted over seven killed frogs
Gloucestershire`s first exotic pet show!
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/general-herp-chat/320967-glou cestershire-reptile-show-2010-a.html
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


View other posts by armata
Posted: 01 May 2006
Unlike dog people in the UK, people here in SA truly love their dogs, but they are very much aware if Bonzo or heinnie gets nailed by a puff adder or cape cobra then there is only one result

A couple of years ago I was approached by a lady walking with her pack of dogs, which were leaping around and in the heather; I was in the process of scale-clipping an adder. She remarked, I hope you are not going to let that thing go here'. I explained that this 'thing' already lived here, and adders were abundant. She then why remarked 'I cannot understand why those things are allowed to live here where people and dogs walk'. This was not in the middle of Poole or Bournemouth - it was Studland National Nature Reserve.
There is no explaning the mindset of some people; on the up side I must say I do meet an equal amount of folk who are interested and enthusiastic when they see what I am up to, snakewise that is.


'I get my kicks on Route 62'

- Cretinous BBC press item

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