How to avoid adders

[Owlcup86]

I’m having a bit of a panic about adders. I have a dog (working breed) that loves to tumble around in undergrowth. I’ve always been nervous of adders and therefore tried to let her frolic only in woodland (and not in long grass, on heathland, etc.).

My question - where do you tend to NOT find adders? So I can go to those places with my dog! I’ve read stuff recently to suggest that adders are pretty much everywhere in the countryside and it’s really worried me. I know what to do should there be an adder bite but want to know how I Best avoid adders…

Thanks!

In 25 years of dog walking all over the country in a variety of environments, I have yet to see an adder! It would never occur to me to avoid them because it would never occur to me that stumbling across one might be an issue.

The likelihood of you finding an adder is minuscule, I really wouldn’t worry.

I’m sure it’s suggested to attach a bell to their collar, so that an adder would hear a dog approaching and be able to move before a situation occurs

My mistake - whilst it’s suggested it wouldn’t work as adders don’t pick up sound like a mammal would

We have a lot of adders in our area. We tend to see them more in the April May time when they are coming out of hibernation. I dont see them daily but see several in a week.

They will be on sandy ground, grass land , heath land and usually in the sun.

They do not hear sound so the bells wont work but people do still put them on their dogs.

If you keep to well trodden areas and avoid quiet areas you will see less of them.

I never walk in shorts due to risk of adders and (ticks!). However on the main moe populated paths you are less likely to encouter them.

If you havent seen any adders in the area that you walk I would relax a bit and stay in those areas.

Sorry going to be that person but your dog should not be tumbling around in the undergrowth this time of year due to nesting birds (and adders!) so maybe look at getting focus or changing how the walks go eg more controlled searching and hunting directed by you.

(To add WCS , collie and working lab owner so do understand their love of tumbling!)

Do ou know that adders are in you area some areas are way worse than others?

It depends where you are, I guess. I'm in the Borders and regularly see adders. They tend to sun themselves on the moorland paths where I walk with my dog, but they're very shy and generally disappear into the tall grass the moment I spot them. I've never seen one in the woods, though.