Snake sightings are piling up in and around Wolfratshausen at the moment. But Isar Ranger Bernhard März explains: That is why there are no more reptiles than before.
- More and more snakes have been seen recently.
- A photo of a dead adder in the Pupplinger Au caused a lot of excitement recently.
- Because the animals are being pushed back more and more, they are protected.
Wolfratshausen / Puppling - The photo of a dead adder in the Pupplinger Au caused a stir on the Facebook social network. A little later, a woman from Wolfratshausen made a special find: a one-meter-long snake had made itself comfortable on the outside wall of the Facebook user's home. At the moment such snake sightings are increasing , but this does not automatically mean that these reptiles appear more often than in previous years.
Pupplinger Au: Photo of dead adder causes excitement on Facebook
Ranger Bernhard März has been doing his rounds on the Isar for around 30 years and has “a very good overview” of the snake population around the wild river in the district. "If you want to see a snake , several factors have to go together," he says. The chance is greater in the morning when the sun comes out.
Then the cold-blooded reptiles warm up on stones in the sun "because they cool off at night". March is often out and about in the undergrowth at these times and comes across harmless sun worshipers. The Isar ranger “does not have the impression that there are more snakes ”. On the contrary: "The stocks have tended to decline for years."
Pupplinger Au: The number of adders but also their prey is decreasing
The adder in particular suffers. “The drainage of wet areas, the intensive use of formerly structured forest edges and the reforestation of many forest meadows have contributed to the loss of the adder's habitat . The decline of amphibians as important prey makes the viper ", shares the spokeswoman for the district office, Marlis Peischer, on demand with.
A Wolfratshauserin found this snake at her house - presumably a black adder, also known as a hell-viper. A helpful neighbor released the protected animal in the Isar floodplain.
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The adder is also one of the five most poisonous animals in Germany (video)
Pupplinger Au: Killing adders is a criminal offense
Precisely because the animals are being pushed back further and further, they are protected by species . “Anyone who kills a snake is liable to prosecution. In my opinion this is unforgivable from a biological point of view, ”clarifies March. Since it would be difficult for them to keep their populations anyway, “every attack on a snake is an attack against biodiversity”.
March warns cyclists in particular to be careful: "When the cyclists are on their way at high speed and dash through the Isar floodplains, they can often no longer avoid the queues that cross the paths." For an already tense population, "this is a big problem" .
Wolfratshausen: Isar ranger warns cyclists to be careful
If you come across a snake while walking , the ranger has a few tips on how to behave: “Normally there is no danger from such encounters.” Instead, attentive relaxation seekers experience “totally fascinating” natural spectacles. “You should keep moving and watch the animals from a certain distance,” he says.
Snakes , which he thinks are intelligent animals, would just continue to sunbathe if they didn't feel threatened. “Anyone who approaches the reptile hectically will frighten the snake .” The animal would then make itself heard with a loud hiss. Then at the latest you should retreat as a hiker in order not to expose the animal to unnecessary stress.
Pupplinger Au: Attacks by adders only occur in exceptional cases
According to observations made in March, an adder attack only occurs in absolute exceptional cases , "when the snake no longer knows how to help itself ". As District Office spokeswoman Peischer explains, "adder bites are very rare". For a healthy person, the snake's poison would "not pose a threat to life, because the amount released is very small".
Is a man of a viper bite that causes poison mostly nausea and local bleeding, and the cycle is weakened. Peischer says: "That is why you should stay calm, avoid exertion and keep the affected part of the body still." The wound must neither be cut out nor sucked out. Not every attack is completely harmless. In some cases, the poison causes allergic reactions and the wound can become infected. "To be on the safe side , you should always consult a doctor after a bite ." (Dst)
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