What to do with an adder in the garden?

EssexGirl

I've just come back from walking the dog and found a juvenile adder in the garden, right by the back door. My guinea pigs must have known it was there and they were screaming. I've covered it with one of those pet carriers as I don't want it slithering around the garden as I have 2 ancient cats and the dog. I took the guineas indoors.

Any ideas what I can do with it?

forgotmyname

RSPCA? Dont pick it up, Read in the paper the other day a girl picked one up & got bitten.

Arm swelled up massive.. Not nice.

EssexGirl

Not sure the RSPCA would come out for it. We know not to pick it up as we know what damage they can do, hence I'm worried for the pets.

Farway

Ask Local council pest officer for advice?

Adders a protected species, so killing it is out of question

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/Adder

Fruball

Flamin 'eck :eek:

I would think the RSPCA would come out for it if its up close and personal in a residential area and not leaving of its own accord.

Let us know what happens - good luck

BTW, How big is it? just curious

Fruball

Might be a recipe for it on the OS board :rotfl::rotfl:

Primrose

Can you scoop it up in a home made fishing net made with some wire fed round the top an old pair of tights knotted at the base of the knicker part, put it in a cardboard box and take it to any wooded area near you. The temperatures are getting chillier at nights now and the poor thing will need somewhere with plenty of leaves, bracken etc to be able to hibernate properly. If you leave it in your garden it may well hibernate in somewhere like your compost heap, if you have one.

EssexGirl

Frugal wrote: »

Might be a recipe for it on the OS board :rotfl::rotfl:

:eek: :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

EssexGirl

It's a youngster of around 8 inches. Looks like a female from what I've read. It didn't look too keen to get away when I discovered it, that's why I put a box on top of it.

Due to a cost cutting exercise a year or so ago we haven't got a pest control department at the council any more :mad:

Will call the RSPCA to see what they say. I really don't want it in the garden. We back onto a field, so it must have come from there. They're not normally seen in this kind of weather, only basking in the sunshine on a warm day.

Fruball

OMG - hope there isn't a nest near you :eek::eek::eek:

cba321

I would have heart failure if I saw a snake in my back garden, I'm very scared of them! :eek: