IF, and it is a big IF, these are present in GM, any sighting should be withheld as they will be very very rare in GM. Other view this site and will give these shy stunning reptiles unwelcome attention. There has been instances in other counties of characters turning up to try and capture snakes or people trying to kill them with dogs. This is also relevant to Grasssnakes. My avater is NOT from GM.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 25th of July 2014 01:00:16 AM
I know there are still Grass Snakes on my local patch but I still have doubts about Adders being present around Bolton. It seems to be the norm now to blame Adders for any bites as most people do not seem to realise that a Grass Snake will bite when in danger of being stood on or threatened in any other way.
Ian, I too read these reports in the press, had it been just one occurrence,I would have been totally sceptical. There was also a report of someone being bitten a few years ago in Wythenshawe. I looked at the habitat around the Bolton area events, and there seems to be quite a lot of habitat that could suit snakes nearby, i.e golf courses and scrub. There is reputed to be a small Adder population on the moors around Belmont. I have meant to search the dry heather moorland between Mast Road and Belmont for some time, but I have never got round to it. Should I find a snake though, I will not give out the exact location, as there is always a small minority of people who still wish these creatures harm.
A recent news report stated a young boy was bitten by an adder in Bolton (Farnworth) In fact there have been several reports of snake bites in the Bolton area over recent years, including ones in Barrow Bridge and in the Haulgh. However I know of no sightings of adders around Bolton or other parts of GM for that matter, and am sceptical as to authenticity of these reports. Is there anyone with more knowledge than me about snakes in the area that might be able to share their views about this.
