The snake is black with gray diamonds on its back. Nikolsky's Viper: A completely black and venomous snake. Lifestyle and habitats of the forest-steppe viper

26.10.2019

All types of snakes in humans are associated with fear. There can be no positive emotions when you look at unblinking frozen eyes, only fear and goosebumps can appear from such a look.

Fear of snakes in humans is formed at the subconscious level. It's the feeling of fighting for your life. Not only children, but also adults are afraid of the bite of these reptiles. But is it really all that scary?

So, about vipers. What species do we have

The viper belongs to the class of reptiles. Its habitat is huge - these are some parts of Asia, and part of Europe.

Reptiles lead a sedentary lifestyle, so they do not like to "travel". Winter is spent in rodent burrows, or simply under stones, in small depressions. The burrow is left after wintering in the middle of spring.

They winter either singly or in groups. And with the advent of spring, they crawl out onto the stones to bask and soak up the spring sun.

On the territory of our state there are 6 species of vipers - ordinary, steppe, Nikolsky, Caucasian, muzzle (viper family) and Levant viper (gyurza). The bites of the first 5 do not lead to death, but the gyurza is deadly poisonous to humans.

In this article we will talk about the consequences of a bite for a person of only the first 4 of them: ordinary, steppe, Nikolsky and Caucasian. They are the most common of the viper family and it is important for us to be able to provide first aid in case of an attack!

Favorite habitat of the common viper and Nikolsky- these are forests, swamps, as well as garden plots, or areas near water bodies, abandoned peat developments.

ordinary

Nikolsky

The steppe viper, as the name suggests, lives in the steppes. Their color is gray, with a pronounced zigzag of dark color along the body. It lives in the steppes of Europe, especially in the western part - these are all regions of Kazakhstan, less often in the Crimea, in Moldova, in southern Ukraine, in Iran. A distinctive feature of the steppe viper is that for habitation they choose the territory where other individuals from this family do not live. Deaths from the bite of the steppe viper have not been recorded. But, there are many cases when the steppe snake bit livestock.

steppe

The Caucasian viper is common in Georgia and Abkhazia, partly in Turkey and the Krasnodar Territory. You can meet her in the foothill forests and alpine meadows. Quietly coexists with a person choosing gardens, vineyards and tea plantations for housing. The main difference from the steppe is a brighter color and the complete absence of small scales on the muzzle.

Few people are interested in how these reptiles reproduce and what they eat, as a rule, everyone is interested in what the consequences of their bite can be, both in adults and in children.

You should know that vipers are active from the beginning of spring, that is, after waking up until mid-summer. They do not attack a person themselves, but as a rule, they attack and bite the victim as a result of protection. Therefore, everyone who goes to the forest for a walk, hike or picking mushrooms, the likelihood that they will meet a viper there is quite high - especially in wetlands. Therefore, it is necessary to know not only about the consequences of a snake bite, but also what first aid should be given to the victim.

Some people ask the question, can this snake bite in the water? As a rule, the habitat of vipers is not water. In water, a person can only collide with it if it swims from one bank to another. It should be noted that in the water it bites more often, but that's another story.

They are excellent swimmers and hold their breath underwater.

What are the consequences of a viper bite for an adult

Although the viper is a peaceful reptile, but going for a walk in the forest, one must be prepared for any situation. A meeting with her is always unexpected, and if you accidentally step on her, an attack will be inevitable. The poison that enters the human body as a result of a bite has a hemolytic character.

The first signs and symptoms after an attack:

At the bite site, two red dots are clearly visible, which remain from the teeth. There are no bruises, as the blood coagulates quickly.
After five minutes, the affected area turns red, there is a burning sensation and redness, swelling begins to appear.
There is dizziness and weakness throughout the body of a bitten person.
An allergic reaction may occur with swelling of the larynx and difficulty breathing.
10-20 minutes after the bite, the pressure drops, the heart rate increases, the skin becomes pale, some patients may experience nausea and vomiting, and there is an increase in temperature. In some cases, even convulsions are possible. As a rule, such complex symptoms lead to death - death.

It should be noted that as a result of a viper bite, body tissue cells can die.

What determines the degree of danger with a bite

If we compare, for example, that after a viper sting, a fatal outcome was recorded in about 1% of those bitten, then the statistics of the consequences of stinging bees and wasps are much sadder - the number of deaths is much greater. But with all this, when they say the words of a snake, it becomes somehow creepy.

So, the degree of danger depends on a number of factors, namely:

reptile size. The more - the longer the viper, the more poison it contains, which, when bitten, enters the injured person.
Weight and height of the victim. That is, the larger the victim, the less harmful the injected poison is for him. For example, if a viper has bitten a child, a dog or an adult, then the result of the poison will be different. In the first two cases, the poison will quickly begin to spread throughout the body with various negative consequences. In the third case, the same amount of poison for an adult will not have the same effect as for a child.
The place where they bitten. The most dangerous if the bite fell on the shoulder or in the neck, less dangerous in the arm or leg. It should be noted that the bite site affects what the consequences for the body will be.
The health status of the affected person. If the bitten person has problems with the cardiovascular system, then shock can occur, since after the bite there is an increased heartbeat, as well as panic, which will contribute to the rapid spread of poison throughout the body of the victim.

First aid for an injured adult

Usually, after a viper bite, a person experiences shock and panic. Therefore, the first thing to do is to pull yourself together - no hysteria and tears. What happened, happened, now you should provide first aid, preferably quickly and clearly, there is no time for emotions.

How to give first aid. Doctor Komarovsky's advice

The first thing to do is to make sure that there is no re-bite. Sometimes it happens.
In parallel, call an ambulance if a mobile phone is at hand and there is a connection. There's not a minute to lose.
It is necessary to lay down the victim. He must not move, at this moment it is very important not to let the poison spread throughout the body. The final result depends on how quickly and correctly first aid is provided, that is, whether the patient will be cured with minimal injuries.
If the bite was in the hand, you need to remove rings, bracelets and watches, if the victim has them.
Next, you should slightly open the wound (but do not cut or pick it), and begin to suck out the poison, spitting it out. The person who performs the suction procedure must have a sufficient amount of saliva in his mouth, if it is not enough, it is recommended to take some water into his mouth in order to spit out the poison with water later. Suck out the poison should be within 15-20 minutes. During this time, the helper can suck out half of the injected poison from the body of the bitten. Even if there are wounds or microcracks in the oral cavity of the caregiver. The main condition is that there is saliva or water in the mouth.
The next step is to disinfect the wound, if circumstances permit. In the presence of disinfectant drugs, they can treat the wound, for example, with ordinary iodine. Alcohol will work for this too. If you have other alcoholic drinks with you in the forest, then they can treat the area around the wound. Then, it should be tied with a bandage, or another soft (necessarily clean) cloth. In no case do not squeeze soft tissues, as the hand or leg of a bitten person will gradually swell. It is best to keep the arm or leg in a bent position.

It doesn’t matter where the bite occurred, in the city, in the country or on a hike, the victim must be given plenty of drink - it can be water, tea or broth. Reception of a large volume of liquid will contribute to the rapid removal of poison from the body. But it should be remembered that you can not give the victim coffee and other pathogens!

As a result of a snake bite, there will be no negative consequences, only if the correct first aid was provided in a timely manner.

Symptoms after a viper bite in children

Alas, sadly, but children often climb everywhere, and the likelihood that they will stumble upon a snake is very high. It should be noted that children do not distinguish between a snake and an ordinary viper, although there are adults who will not be able to distinguish them.

So, the child was bitten by a viper. What could be the consequences:

shock - both in a child and in an adult who was nearby;
viper bite marks - two red dots that almost do not bleed, as the blood quickly coagulates under the influence of poison;
severe pain that the child will not tolerate;
weakness throughout the body;
redness of the bite site, and in some cases it becomes red-blue;
swelling of the wound gradually appears, and the entire limb may swell;
formation of small bubbles is possible;
chills;
sweating;
a sharp increase in temperature;
the child may experience dizziness;
there may be a decrease in blood pressure;
cold extremities may occur;
if you do not quickly provide the child with first aid, then tissue necrosis may begin at the site of the bite;
when bitten by a large individual, even loss of consciousness is possible;

Here is a list of possible symptoms after a viper bite. Next, we describe what needs to be done as first aid.

First aid for an injured child

As with adults, the first thing to do is to ensure that there is no re-bite.
Then, you should reassure the child and, if necessary, his mother.
Rinse the bite site and at the same time call an ambulance.
It is advisable to put the child on the ground, and ask not to move.
Before the ambulance arrives, the poison should be sucked out of the wound (as described above).
Be sure to give plenty of water to drink if tea is available.
It is advisable to describe to the doctors the snake that bit the child so that they can guess whether it was a viper or not, and prescribe the correct treatment.

What not to do after a viper bite

it is impossible to bandage the affected limb with a tourniquet, since this will not benefit, but only harm, due to damage to the soft tissues of the body;
you can’t treat the bite site with vinegar if there is no alcohol in the presence;
in no case should you drink alcoholic beverages or energy drinks, as they will contribute to a more rapid spread of the poison throughout the body;
you can not cut the skin at the site of the bite;

Antidote. Does it exist at all

Yes, there is. Pharmacies sell drugs against viper bites, the most famous of which is Antigadyuka, which is produced in Russia by NPO Microgen. 20-40 minutes after ingestion, this drug begins to remove snake venom from the body of the victim.

Before buying and using the anti-viper serum, be sure to consult your doctor about the individual tolerance of this drug!

But even if the victim was given a serum against snake venom, it is advisable that the patient be under the supervision of a doctor before and after (at least for a while), so to speak, just in case.

In addition to the antidote, you can additionally give a tablet of "Suprastin" or "Dimedrol" in order to reduce the allergic reaction.

In very rare cases, with poor health or increased sensitivity to allergens, a viper bite for an adult is fatal. Therefore, it is necessary to provide first aid in a timely manner and, if possible, take the victim to a hospital or first-aid post for examination by a doctor and further treatment!

In conclusion, I would like to say. Although there are not many poisonous snakes on the territory of Russia, the probability of being bitten is quite high. Therefore, one should not only learn to recognize poisonous snakes, but also be able not to get confused and provide first aid to the victim.

Description

The common viper, as a rule, is of medium size - males reach 60 cm, females 70 cm. In the north of the range, rare specimens reach 1 meter in length. The head is separated from the body by a short neck, the muzzle from above, in front of the line connecting the anterior edges of the eyes, has 3 large shields (one in the middle and two on the sides), as well as a number of smaller ones. The pupil is vertical. The muzzle is rounded at the end. The nasal opening is cut in the middle of the nasal shield. Coloration varies greatly from gray and bluish to copper red and black, with a characteristic zigzag pattern on the back along the spine. In the latter case, the pattern is practically indistinguishable.

Spreading

The range of the common viper includes Europe (Great Britain, Scandinavian countries, France, Italy, Albania, Bulgaria, northern Greece, Switzerland, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia - the middle and northern regions of the European part) and Asia (Russia - Siberia, the Far East to Sakhalin inclusive; North Korea and northern regions of China). This is the only snake found in the far north (up to 68 ° north latitude) due to its low susceptibility to low temperatures.

Lifestyle

An ordinary viper lives on average 11-12 years. It quickly adapts to any terrain and can live at altitudes up to 3000 meters above sea level. The distribution is uneven depending on the availability of wintering sites. Saddled, as a rule, does not move further than 50-100 meters. The exception is forced migration to the wintering place, in which case the snakes can move up to 5 km away. Wintering usually takes place from October-November to March-April (depending on the climate), for which he chooses a depression in the ground (burrows, crevices, etc.) at a depth of up to 2 meters, where the temperature does not drop below +2 ... +4 °C In the event of a shortage of such places, several hundred individuals may accumulate in one place, which crawl out to the surface in spring, which creates the impression of great crowding. Subsequently, the snakes crawl away.

In the summer, it often basks in the sun, the rest of the time it hides under old stumps, in crevices, etc. The snake is not aggressive, and when a person approaches, it tries to use its camouflage coloration as much as possible, or move away. Only in the event of a sudden appearance of a person or in the event of a provocation on his part, she can try to bite him. This cautious behavior is explained by the fact that it needs a lot of energy to reproduce the poison in conditions of changing temperatures.

reproduction

The mating season is in May, and offspring appear in August or September, depending on the climate. Viviparous viviparous - eggs develop and cubs hatch in the womb. Usually up to 8-12 juveniles appear, depending on the length of the female. It happens that at the time of childbirth, the female wraps around a tree or stump, leaving her tail in the air, “scattering” kites on the ground, which from the first moment begin an independent life. Juveniles are usually 15-20 cm long and are already poisonous. Many believe that only born individuals are more poisonous, but this is not true. It is also not true that juveniles are more aggressive. As soon as they are born, snakes usually molt. In the future, molting of young and adults occurs 1 - 2 times a month. Before their first hibernation in October-November, they never eat, because before hibernation they must digest all the food they eat in order to avoid metabolic problems.

I

The common viper is deadly poisonous, and its venom is similar to that of rattlesnakes. However, it produces a much smaller amount of poison compared to the latter, and for this reason is considered less dangerous. The bite is rarely fatal. However, the bitten person should seek immediate medical attention.

The composition of the poison includes high-molecular proteases of hemorrhagic, hemocoagulative and necrotizing action and low-molecular neurotropic cytotoxins. As a result of a bite, hemorrhagic edema, necrosis and hemorrhagic impregnation of tissues in the area of venom injection occur, accompanied by dizziness, lethargy, headache, nausea, shortness of breath. In the future, progressive shock of complex genesis, acute anemia, intravascular coagulation, and increased capillary permeability develop. In severe cases, dystrophic changes occur in the liver and kidneys.

In spring, viper venom is more toxic than in summer.

Enemies in nature

The main enemies of the viper in nature are storks, herons, kites, eagles and owls. On the ground hedgehogs, wild boars, or large rodents. Also, snakes often die under the hooves of cattle in pastures or at the hands of a person, including under the wheels of vehicles.

Notes

Literature

"Amphibians and reptiles of the USSR", A. G. Bannikov, I. S. Darevsky, A. K. Rustamov, ed. "Thought", 1971

Links

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

See what the "Common Viper" is in other dictionaries:

Viper: The common viper is a species of venomous snake in the genus of true vipers of the viper family. Real vipers are a genus of poisonous snakes of the Viper family. Viper family of poisonous snakes Viper (story) story by Alexei Tolstoy. ... ... Wikipedia

- (common viper), this snake. vipers. Length 60 70 cm, sometimes up to 85 cm. The color is varied - from gray and sandy to black tones. A characteristic dark zigzag stripe runs along the back, invisible in black individuals. On the top side... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

There is no place to put brands, toadstool, scoundrel, reptile, scum, scoundrel, nowhere to put brands, infection, bitch, creature, bastard, bitch, daboya, filth, bastard, bastard, vulture, bitch, villain, snake, gyurza, rubbish, viper, scoundrel, viper, bastard... Dictionary of synonyms Handbook of homeopathy

Common viper Common viper Scientific classification Kingdom: Animals T ... Wikipedia

snakes- Common viper. Common viper. Snakes are animals of the reptile class. They are characterized by an elongated body, devoid of limbs. Z.'s body is covered with scales and horny shields. The top layer of Z.'s skin is periodically shed. Thin… … First aid - popular encyclopedia

Common viper (Vipera berus)- a poisonous snake from the genus real vipers of the viper family. This snake can often be found on the territory of the Eurasian continent. This article describes what a viper snake looks like, where it lives, how it behaves, what it eats and how it reproduces.

This reptile usually reaches a length of 0.7-1 m, has a thickened body. The largest individuals are found in the northern part of the range, namely on the Scandinavian Peninsula. As a rule, females are larger than males. The weight of an adult individual can reach 180 g.

The reptile has an elegant rounded triangular head with pronounced shields: one frontal and two parietal. The nasal opening is located in the center of the anterior shield. The pupil of this snake is vertical. The movable tubular teeth of the common viper are located on the upper jaw. Grace and grace to this dangerous creature adds a clear distinction between the head and neck. The abundance of scales and scutes add a truly awesome look to the snake.

Nature did not stint on paints in the colors of an ordinary viper: a sandy-brown or gray back is decorated with bizarre multi-colored patterns. There are light blue, terracotta, green, pink, ashy and dark brown shades. The dominant color is difficult to determine, since there are a huge number of color options and it is individual for each individual. A distinctive feature of the ordinary is a smooth or zigzag dark stripe that stretches along the back. This is a kind of "calling card" of real vipers.

An interesting feature of this poisonous snake has been noticed. Males have a cold gray, purple or bluish color. Females are usually painted more brightly: in red, sand, yellow, green tones. Both sexes are black.

Cubs at birth have a brownish or brownish color with a terracotta zigzag along the back. The change in skin color begins after 5-7 molts - a year after birth.

Gallery: poisonous viper (25 photos)

Habitat and lifestyle

You can meet a reptile in a mixed forest or near a reservoir at an altitude of up to 3 km above sea level.. This is its main danger: the reptile, although it is wary of human habitation and does not settle nearby, in its natural habitat can pose a threat to humans. The viper is a venomous snake, and its bite can be very painful if you do not provide timely medical attention.

The snakes are unevenly distributed: in some areas up to 100 individuals per hectare can be found, although this is very rare. This indicator depends on the availability of shelters suitable for wintering. In May, when it is warm enough, the reptiles come out of hibernation and crawl out of their hiding places.

An adult viper can live up to 15, and sometimes up to 30 years. The reptile easily adapts to any type of terrain. The nest of snakes can be found in peat bogs, moorlands, wet meadows, field edges and in dunes. In the south of Europe, biotopes are predominantly limited to humid lowlands.

habits

The viper leads a sedentary life, moving at a distance of no more than 100 meters. As an exception, only forced migration to wintering areas, which falls at the end of October, can be considered. In this case, the reptile travels up to 5 km. As shelters, the snake chooses depressions in the ground - burrows, crevices, artificial structures located at a depth of up to 2 meters. In case of a shortage of places for wintering, several hundred vipers accumulate in one haulout, which crawl out to the surface in the spring at the same time, after which they disperse over the area.

In summer, when the temperature is high, the viper hides under old stumps, large stones and similar places, but sometimes it can crawl out to bask in the sun. When meeting with a person, it does not show aggression and tries to hide, using all the possibilities of camouflage colors. At the same time, a disturbed reptile always hisses strongly. This snake can bite a person only in case of his unexpected appearance or provocation on his part. This is due to the fact that the snake spends a lot of energy to produce a new portion of venom.

The basis of the diet of an ordinary viper is:

The ratio of food varies depending on its availability in a particular area. In the course of observations, it was revealed that vipers prefer sharp-faced and common frogs and viviparous lizards. If this food is not available, forest and gray voles, shrews, fledglings of buntings, pipits and warblers are used. Young vipers can catch insects - locusts, large beetles, butterfly caterpillars, as well as slugs and earthworms.

viper breeding

Mating season peaks in May, with offspring appearing in August. The viper belongs to viviparous snakes: the development of eggs and the hatching of offspring occurs in the womb of the female. Depending on its size, 8-12 young individuals are born, which immediately begin an independent life. They have a length of up to 20 cm and are already poisonous.

There is a misconception that only born young vipers have a stronger poison. It is also a mistake to assume that young animals are more aggressive. The viper begins to molt immediately after birth. Usually the snake changes its skin 1-2 times a month. Before the first hibernation, young vipers never feed, as they must digest all the food they eat to avoid metabolic problems.

natural enemies

Despite the agility of the viper and its strong poison, in its natural habitat there are enemies that it cannot cope with:

badgers;
Foxes;
Ferrets;
Martens.

Viper venom, dangerous to humans, does not affect these animals. Dangerous enemies for this reptile are birds that can attack it from the air. The most dangerous are serpent eagles, storks and owls.

Benefits for a person

Everyone knows that this snake is extremely dangerous for humans. But not everyone knows that this reptile will never attack first and can only bite in defense. A viper bite is very rarely fatal. Its consequences - pain, dizziness, nausea and a small swelling, can pass in a few days, but safety rules should not be neglected.

When used in small quantities, the venom of this snake can be of great benefit, therefore it is used in medicine. Do not forget that vipers exterminate mouse-like rodents that can cause great harm to agriculture.

The unique ability of snakes to recover from hibernation inspired people with mystical horror in ancient times. Even in our time, snakes are credited with magical properties, using their dried skin to attract wealth and protect against enemies. Be that as it may, but gradually zoologists studied the habits and properties of reptiles. They were divided into classes and squads, and now they know where the snakes hibernate and how they live.

Snakes in Russia

Today, the snakes living in Russia are well studied, but due to the fact that their natural habitat is constantly changing due to human intervention, they migrate and adapt to new places.

Conventionally, Russia can be divided into zones where these reptiles are found:

Not so long ago, information began to appear that they began to appear in the forest-tundra. How they adapted to local conditions and where the snakes winter in the tundra is unknown, but reindeer herders claim that there were cases of bites.
There are only 4 types of snakes, one of which is poisonous.
The third zone covers the territory of the Black Sea, the shores of the Caspian, Azov and Aral Seas and the border with Kazakhstan. 17 species of reptiles live in this territory, 3 of which are poisonous, and 2, although not poisonous, are aggressive, and their bites can be very painful. The places where snakes hibernate (photo below) in this area are animal burrows, or wind-protected crevices in the mountains.

Krasnodar, Stavropol Territory, the countries of the North Caucasus and Kalmykia are the habitat for 14 species of reptiles, 3 of which are dangerous and 3 are poisonous.
The Far East is home to 15 species of snakes, of which only three are poisonous.

The way of life and the choice of a place where snakes hibernate directly depends on their habitat. For example, in warm areas, they may not hibernate at all, while in regions with cold winters, they are forced to seek shelter warmer and away from people.

Poisonous snakes in Russia

Among the reptiles that are dangerous to people living in different regions of Russia are:

The steppe viper - although a medium-sized snake, but its bite can cause serious damage to human health, although deaths were rare. The length of its gray-brown body with a zigzag or stripe on the back usually reaches 30-40 cm. It lives in meadows and steppes, but so far the grass is green. As it burns out, this snake moves closer to water bodies. He likes to burrow into hay, where snakes of this species usually winter. There were cases when people bitten by a steppe viper lost their sight for a long time, so it is better to avoid meeting with it.

is listed in the Red Book and is rare, but its bite is fatal to humans. An adult grows up to half a meter in length, the body color varies from yellow to dark red with a black, sometimes intermittent, stripe on the back. It lives in forests and meadows on the slopes of mountains. Winters in crevices between stones.

These snakes pose a mortal danger, but since they avoid human settlements, an encounter with them can only occur on their territory. When hunting or gathering mushrooms in these places, you should familiarize yourself with what inhabitants you can meet here.

The most dangerous snakes in Russia

There are reptiles that it is better to never meet on your way, but even they try to hide when they see a person, although they can harm him:

Gyurza is one of the most dangerous snakes in Russia. In the steppe variety, the body length can reach two meters, although most individuals are 130-140 cm. These snakes live in families and are extremely aggressive at the end of May, when they start mating. In the summer, they creep together to their hunting “land”, and in the fall they return to where snakes of this species winter, although they do not hibernate.
lives in the south of Siberia and the north of Kalmykia. This one has black transverse stripes on the body. Seeing a person, he assumes a protective posture and emits a repulsive smell that can be felt at a distance of up to 5 m, which saved many people from his bite, which, although very painful, is not fatal.

Usually, snakes avoid meeting people, but they can be caught by accident, therefore, while walking through the forest, picking mushrooms and berries, just in case, knock with a stick on bushes and grass. Hearing the noise, the snakes crawl away.

Dangerous snakes of Russia

If you look for places where snakes winter in Russia, then rodent burrows will be the most common. They can unite in large groups, especially for steppe and forest reptiles.

There are a number of snakes that, although not venomous, can harm humans with their bite. In Russia, these include:

Yellow-bellied snake. It reaches a length of more than 1.5 m. The color of its back can be either olive or black, but the belly is always yellowish, hence the name. They live far from people in fields and steppes, but they are not afraid to settle in gardens, and even in parks. They feed on birds and small rodents, and when they meet a person, they can make a throw up to a meter and bite the one who disturbed them. Snake bites are quite painful and take a long time to heal. Often they settle in haystacks or in the holes of rodents that they have previously eaten. The yellow-bellied snake is tied to its home, so it always returns to it after hunting.

The Caucasian does not avoid people at all, and can even settle under the roof of a barn and catch mice there. Her bite is not dangerous, but it is better not to tease this small snake, up to 75 cm in length. Unlike other non-venomous snakes, it has cat-like pupils, hence its name. It also hibernates in hay, barns or empty buildings.

These reptiles, although they are not dangerous to humans, it is better not to touch. It is a pity that often people, not understanding these beautiful creatures, kill snakes that are completely safe for them.

Poisonous snakes in the suburbs

In the Moscow region, there is only one type of poisonous snake - the common viper. They live along the banks of swamps, rivers and lakes, in forests and sometimes in meadows. Vipers avoid people, but a chance encounter can provoke a snake to bite a potential enemy. It is easy to recognize, as this species of snake has a triangular head on a thin neck and narrow pupils of the eyes.

The places where snakes winter in the Moscow region can be completely different. For example, a single viper can lie in someone's hole or crevice at a depth of up to 2 meters, where even severe frosts will not reach it. If there is no such place, vipers unite in groups of up to 200 individuals and hibernate in a shallower hole.

Non-poisonous snakes in the Moscow region: snakes

In this area there are 2 types of non-poisonous snakes - snakes and copperheads. The first prefer to settle near reservoirs with running water. They are often confused with vipers, and therefore exterminated, although in some countries, such as Ukraine, Belarus, they are tamed in rural areas. They are excellent mousers and easily get used to people. They hibernate in deep cracks in the ground or in burrows.

Copperheads in the Moscow region

In the forests where snakes winter in central Russia, copperheads prefer clearings and clearings, as there is more heat and sun. They clog into burrows or holes under snags and stones, where they sleep until the first spring warmth. These incredibly beautiful snakes are also subject to extermination by people, although they are not yet included in the list of endangered animals.

In the Moscow region, they are found in the Chekhov, Klin and Podolsk regions.

Wintering of snakes in the Leningrad region

The same snakes live in this region as in the Moscow region. Due to the intense heat, especially from May to September, they are very active, so when going to the forest or even digging in the garden, you should be careful. But it is especially necessary to avoid meeting with snakes during the Indian summer, as they are always aggressive before hibernation.

The most common in the Luga, Kingisepp and Volkhov districts, where snakes winter in the Leningrad region. They choose deep holes or hollows, sometimes they burrow into the ground to a depth of 2 meters, where the temperature is rarely below +3 degrees even in frost.

Species: Vipera berus = Common viper (lifestyle)

This snake lives in some found hole in the soil, under the roots of a tree or between stones, in a mouse or mole hole, in an abandoned hole of a fox or a rabbit, in a cleft in the soil - in general, in some kind of similar shelter, near which, if possible, there is a small an open place where she could warm her body in the sun about. When the desire to mate does not prompt her to roam the neighborhood, the viper can always be found in the daytime near her refuge, where at the slightest danger she returns as hastily as her drowsiness and laziness allow. When a thunderstorm approaches, according to Lenz's observations, she makes small excursions, but usually during the day she never goes far from her hole. Land claims that the viper is a purely diurnal animal, since there are few animals that like to expose themselves to the sun to such an extent. But to these words he adds that it is difficult to know what she does at night. I have no doubt that on warm or sultry nights, vipers remain on the surface of the earth or crawl only under the moss.

In the moonlight I quietly crept up to my captives and found that often they lie quite calmly, but sometimes they crawl nimbly; twice I came on moonlit nights quite alone and as quietly as possible to places where I knew there were vipers, but did not find any, although no conclusion can be drawn from this, since in broad daylight and in the most beautiful weather you can not find a single snake. It is only known that after sunset it is rare to find snakes in open places; they crawl under the moss, into the grass, etc.?. If chance had taught our researcher, as it taught me, if he had lit a fire on a dark night in those places where he searched in vain for vipers in the moonlight, he would change his mind.

The viper's special love for sunlight proves only one thing: she, like her relatives, loves warmth most of all and tries to give herself this pleasure as often as possible, but this does not yet prove that she is a diurnal animal. The laziness that catches the eye of everyone, which she reveals when she basks in the sun, indifference to everything that does not directly concern her, indicates the fact that during the day she is not in a cheerful state, but rather in some kind of half-asleep. All nocturnal animals, without exception, love the sun, although they fear and avoid the light; the most eloquent proof of this is a cat or an owl, which also bask in the sun; captured owls die if they are deprived of the sun for a long time.

For the viper, a reptile animal whose body temperature increases or decreases depending on the environment, it is the most urgent need to lie stretched out in the sun for hours; for her, it is a true blessing to give the body warmth, which the sluggishly circulating blood cannot deliver to it. But this snake is by no means a diurnal animal, just like all the others from this family. It is not for nothing that she is endowed with pupils capable of unusually expanding and contracting, it is not for nothing that her eyes are protected by prominent brow shields, and in other species similar to her - leathery formations that can only be compared with the tactile hairs of nocturnal predatory mammals, because every organ, every ability, which possesses an animal, finds its use.

Only with the onset of twilight does the viper begin its activities, its activities, its hunting. To be convinced of this truth, one who has caught snakes should arrange the cage in such a way that he can see what is happening in it without being noticed by animals, or light a fire at night in a place where vipers are often found. An unusual light surprises the animals, which are very lively at night, and they hasten to get to know the strange phenomenon better, crawl up to the fire itself, look with surprise at the flame and, apparently, reluctantly decide to crawl away. Thus, he who has to catch vipers will reach his goal much more easily by night with fire than by day; he will catch them even in those places where he searched in vain during the day, of course, if there really are vipers or other nocturnal snakes in this area.

Against the opinion that the viper is more nocturnal than diurnal, Bloom exposes all the messages he received and his own observations. They come down to the fact that after sunset, even much earlier, the viper crawls into its hole and crawls out of there at night only in very warm, stuffy weather. Then she really walks around everywhere and goes for prey. In the mountains, where most of all the snakes are the only viper, and in the northern regions, even in the lowlands, where the nights are always cold in summer, she never leaves her shelter at night, so that she is forced to look for prey there during the day. As diurnal animals, other snakes with a slit-like pupil are also known. Of the group of wolf-toothed snakes, Indian species feed, according to Günther, on spindles, which they have to catch during the day; Africans eat mice and other small nocturnal mammals. It is possible that slit-like pupils and prominent supraocular shields are useful to the viper when looking for mice in minks. The proof that she does this are the mice that were found many times in her stomach? Homeyer often met vipers going for prey during the day, and once he watched a viper attack a bird.

The misconception about the time at which the viper indulges in activities partly justifies the views that are widespread everywhere about its disposition, which I also previously shared. Whoever watched it during the day will tell the true truth, calling it extremely lethargic, immobile, stupid to perceive external impressions and stupid animals, even in comparison with other snakes, but a person who observed it at night will form a completely different opinion. True, even then she cannot compete in dexterity and agility with a slender snake or copperhead; but still at night there remain only faint signs of the sluggishness, slowness and prudence of her daytime movements. She becomes mobile and agile, crawls in all directions in her cage, and in freedom in the area in which she hunts, and in contrast to her daytime behavior, she pays attention to everything that happens around her. Observations and experiments have shown that the viper moves quite quickly on level ground, but can climb a crooked tree trunk, and also swims well. She avoids water not at all to the extent that is usually thought. She does not like water as much as his relatives, but she is not at all afraid of the proximity of water ...