As of: January 22, 2024, 5:29 p.m
By: Marco Blanco Ucles
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Lake Garda is a popular holiday destination for Germans.
Seven species of snakes are native to the waters of northern Italy - two of them are even poisonous.
Lake Garda is often referred to as the southernmost lake in Bavaria - this is how popular the Italian body of water, which suffered from extreme drought last year, is with German tourists.
In addition to wonderful beaches and picturesque towns, the lake in northern Italy also has an impressive biodiversity to offer - inside and outside the water.
Seven species of snakes also live in the Lake Garda area - two of them can pose a real danger to humans.
You don't need to worry if you encounter a box snake, grass snake, yellow-green anger snake, Aesculapian snake or smooth snake in the water or while walking in the forest.
These five species are all harmless to humans.
In principle, however, the website
“gardasee.de”
advises: “If you encounter a snake while hiking through nature, you should under no circumstances annoy or provoke it, regardless of whether it is poisonous or not.
If necessary, you can carefully push the animal to the side.”
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Adders and aspis vipers can be dangerous to humans
More caution should be exercised if you encounter an aspis viper or adder.
They are the two poisonous snakes that live around Lake Garda, which also offers real insider tips for holidaymakers.
Here's what to look for in an encounter and what to do if someone is bitten by one of these two snakes.
Adder likes to stay between piles of stones
The adder, which is around 50 to 70 centimeters long, is usually found at altitudes of 2,000 to 2,500 meters, more rarely in the middle altitudes of the Lake Garda area, where many campers also go on vacation.
The adder prefers to stay in dry stone walls and piles of stones on lawns.
It is easy to recognize thanks to its striking black coloring.
Be careful not to bother the animal under any circumstances, otherwise it may result in a bite.
The poison usually causes nausea and local bleeding and weakens the circulation.
In extreme cases, a shock can also occur, warns the
Bavarian State Office for the Environment.
That's why you should always see a doctor.
To prevent bites, it is recommended to wear long pants when hiking.
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The adder is one of two species of venomous snakes common in the Lake Garda area.
© imagebroker/IMAGO
Bite of the aspis viper extremely painful
Lake Garda tourists should also be careful not to accidentally scare an aspis viper.
The 55 to 65 centimeter long animals live mainly in dry areas and hide in cracks in stones.
It becomes dangerous when the viper is disturbed in its sleep or feels threatened - then it attacks.
A viper bite is extremely painful for a person; the affected limbs swell in a short time.
The possible consequences after the bite: sweating, nausea, vomiting and a drop in blood pressure.
The aspis viper is one of two venomous snake species common around Lake Garda.
© imagebroker/IMAGO
If you come across a snake during your stay on Lake Garda, you can photograph it and send the picture to the local
Reptiland
to receive more information about the snake species and possible dangers.