It Doesn't Adder Up!

There is a report of a man bitten three times by an Adder (Vipera berus) that he picked up being seriously ill in hospital (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/07/man-bitten-three-times-adder). As the article confirms, the snake is Britain's only endemic poisonous reptile but its venom is largely produced to enable it to subdue its prey (including things like Field mice). The snake is largely secretive and, under these described circumstances, would have been operating in a defensive mode. The article also confirms that wasps and bee stings have killed many more people than the Adder in this country. I do hope that this story does not lead to increased attacks on snake-like animals (I have encountered people who have whacked Slow-worms with spades). The Adder is actually a useful and beautifully-crafted addition to the UK fauna.