According with the specialists, it's hard to know if during one summer we'll have a lot of snakes. But one thing is for sure, the weather of the previous year is very determinant on this. If the spring of the year before was early, if the vegetation is abundant and especially if rodents are numerous, then the snakes will be as well. Furthermore, the temperature also plays a role in their appearance. If it is hot, beware! We contacted Dr. Cuveiller, vet and fireman in Meythet (Haute-Savoie). He has 15 years of experience working with serpents & snakes. His advise: if you think you have snakes around your house, put a pair of boots, grab a stick/pole and hit the ground with it. The serpents will runaway without any problem. According with him, the snakes prefer the swimming pools, the lakes and dead leaves. The serpents prefer dry areas, heaps of scrap metal, old boilers, stones. But the campaign is not only their favorite terrain. Last year, he captured a American black snake who crossed the boulevard du Fier, in the center of Annecy. The snakes are also much less fierce than vipers. They can stand up and attack if they feel threatened. However, the viper is less reactive and can only bite if you are over 30 centimeters of her face. The number of bites is 300 per year in France. Only 15 of them are with venom. One to three people die from this bite. 1. In France vipers are they the only poisonous snakes? Yes. They bite. Their two brackets are like the two canines teeth in dogs. Their venom allows them to paralysis their prey. 2. What if you are bitten? Do not panic. Calm down, do not run. Do not unleash the wound, not make it bleed even more. Do not aspire with your mouth. Do not place a tourniquet. Try to refresh the wound with a bag filled with ice. Do not apply directly to skin. Disinfect the wound with an antiseptic or soap and water. Do not inject serum because it can cause allergies. 3. Should we use the aspi-venom? Opinions are divided. Yes if you do so immediately and at least for 15 minutes. 4. Should we give aspirin? Not because it thins the blood. Better to give paracetamol to ease the pain. 5. Where vipers hide? They are found in the woods, the rocks in all regions of France. But in general, she runaway from the man as soon as she receives his vibrations. 6. How do we recognize the aspic viper? It is easy to identify: his body is heavy and its short tail, unlike snakes. His head is flat and triangular. Its wards are split vertically. Its color varies depending on regions and habitats. The background can be light gray, yellowish gray, brown-red, orange or black in the case of Melanie. The design is made dorsal spots more or less quadrangular dark, can be linked in a strip of corrugated or zigzag. The tip of the tail is often yellow or orange. The length varies from 60 to 80 cm, exceptionally 90 cm. 7. Does it kills many people in France? No, it causes very few deaths in our territory: 3 or 4 per year. Much less than the wasp. In addition, these snakes are hiding right now and do advocate that they feel attacked or if they are surprised.
