- Time of past OR future Camino
- Many, various, and continuing.
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
That would be a 'Grass Snake' (Ringed Snake) easy to tell - it has a yellow collar behind its head and is harmless.The second time I was sitting with my feet in the river at the playa fluvial in Vega de Valcarce and the thing swam right towards me. No-one told me they could swim!
are you sure they weren't mating??Trudy said:I did see two beautiful snakes, entwined so no doubt fighting
Peter Robins said:are you sure they weren't mating??Trudy said:I did see two beautiful snakes, entwined so no doubt fighting
Hairy Caterpillars / Processional Caterpillars
These usually come out to play around October throughout till February. You know when the caterpillar season has started by the cotton wool looking balls in the pine trees. These are the Processional Caterpillar nests, the nests start very small but after only a few days can be the size of footballs. The caterpillars come out to feed as the temperatures begin to cool in the evening, but they can still be found in the heat of the day. They are easy to spot on the ground, they walk nose to bum. Hundreds of caterpillars marching in a single file line, a fantastic but deadly sight. They hibernate during the summer months and can stay in the ground for up to four years until the temperature is right for them to come out. They do not bite or sting. They are covered in very fine hair, which they shed instantly they are disturbed, these fine hairs are suddenly airborne and if they touch somebodies skin, a rash will form within minutes, spreading through the entire area. When an animal sniffs them, the hairs can get lodged into their nose and throat causing suffocation. The Spanish can be seen cutting down and burning nests throughout Autumn. If you have been in contact with these, seek medical attention immediately, they will either give you an injection or a tablet for younger children, do not rub the infected area, you will spread the rash. Warn your children about these, they are not pleasant. If you find them in your garden, carefully collect them with a shovel and burn them.
Please note the emergency number -- 112 for all of Spain.Snakes
If you hear someone shout, "Serpiente" - watch where you are treading.
Whilst there are many snakes in Spain, they are mainly found in the mountainous and heavily forested areas. The most dangerous period is in the spring and summer as they hibernate during the cooler months of autumn and winter.
Generally speaking, snakes are rarely seen (unless you are a hill rambler) and very few people are bitten.
Please note: The Spanish population is over 40 million, expanding each year by the same number of tourists to 80 million people.
Deaths from snake bite in the whole of Europe are estimated at about 50 persons per year and only 3 to 6 in Spain. Of these 1 to 3 occur in Catalonia, it being the highest risk area.
These facts give the odds of being a victim of death by snake bite in any part of Spain at more than 13.3 million to 1 or put another way the same odds as winning the UK national lottery. Death by bee or wasp sting is more likely, although still very rare.
Hill Walkers/Rock Climbers: If you are an ardent hill walker, climber, rambler etc you should keep a particular eye out to spot snakes. There are 13 different types in Spain but only 5 of which have venom and only the vipers, they say, can cause death.
Seoane's Viper (Vipera seoanei - víbora de Seoane). This snake is dangerous. It lives in Galicia, León, the Cantabrian coastal strip (Cornisa Cantábrica) and the Basque Country.
Lataste's Viper. Snub nosed. It is present throughout the Spanish Peninsula though nowhere is it common. It is grey, short (around 50cm) and is distinguished by its triangular head and the zigzag pattern on its back. It lives in dry, rocky areas. Be particularly careful when collecting firewood not to stick fingers into holes or crevices as viper bites can be fatal.
Asp Viper (Vipera aspis - víbora áspid). A particularly nasty venomous snake (of Cleopatra fame) it is of the cobra family whose venom can cause death by stopping the heart. If confronted it issues a hissing warning and a jerking movement of its head. It is not prolific in Spain and is thought to be restricted to the Pyrenees.
If bitten seek medical attention immediately.
False Smooth Snake (Macroprotodon cucullatus - culebra de cogulla) I am told this creature is not aggressive and is mainly seen in Catalonia. I still recommend leaving all snakes alone.
The Adder or Common Viper (Vipera Berus) is in most parts of Europe including the UK and Spain. The adder reaches a length of up to 24 inches. Its bite is painful and can be dangerous, particularly to children and older people. It can even be fatal to someone in a poor state of health. If you are bitten, obtain medical assistance immediately.
This snake is not aggressive and moreover it is a rare reptile. If you see one just look but don’t kill it. Stay clear.
The Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) Fully grown adults are blackish, a dark grey or olive with a white underbelly and can grow to over 6ft long. Its rear fangs are poisonous. Its bite is not fatal but is unpleasant and painful, and you are advised to see a doctor if bitten.
This snake lives in open, sunny habitats around the Mediterranean.
Medical treatment: If you are bitten by any venomous snake, remain calm and seek medical attention immediately.
Make an emergency call on your mobile, tel No 112 and try to keep the bite area well below the position of the heart.
Toads
Toads in Spain are very poisonous to animals. If molested they exude a poison from their skin or produce saliva and an animal ingesting this can suffer heart failure. They are not particularly harmful to humans so don't kill them, just keep animals and children away.
Treatment: An infected animal needs urgent treatment by a Veterinary within 40 minutes or death is quite probable.
I saw 3 snakes on the Camino Frances just recently April/May 2015. 2 of these were on the path, and 1 in the grass at a rest area. I don't know what type they were.
I smiled at this, but because there are many people (my mom included) who are massively scared of snakes, it somes worth reiterating:Another reason to walk Winter Camino's, the snakes are hibernating^^.
We saw a lot of these processional caterpillars on the Camino Frances!! We found them quite fascinating, but I had no idea they were dangerous!!Good point. We met them on the via Turonensis and luckily one of us knew how dangerous they can be so we kept our distance. They looked like a snake. They have spread to more Northern parts of Europe in recent years and have become a serious health hazard in some areas, for example in city parks.
Here is a pic of a snake we saw in Arriondas in the Picos de Europa on our way home from our camino. (Not on a Camino but near the Salvador). My research suggests that it was an asp but I am open to correction! It was about 7 inches long, but very aggressive. It reminded us of the very much larger Yarará (Fer de Lance) of South America. We were wearing ankle high boots so our feet were safe. I certainly would not want to confront the beast in sandals.
View attachment 19412
Then there are these friendly little creatures - slow-worms. This one we rescued from the FEVE station platform in Xove as we waited for the train. They are O.K. to handle, provided you know how and can recognise them.
View attachment 19413
A blessing on keeping your eyes open!
Tio Tel
We also saw one of these on the Camino Frances. I did not know what it was but another pilgrim said they thought it was a salamander. It was a very striking black and orange colour.Haha! After reading the link on DougFitz's post, I am thankful that I did NOT pick up that Fire Salamander but just nudged it with my trekking poles out of the trail. I didn't know they were nasty. It was rather cute- black and yellow/orange lizard...
We were on the Camino Frances in April and May, so yes, they are definitely around in springtime.They only seem to be a spring time phenomenon. At least that is what I have observed in Biarritz.
Here is a pic of a snake we saw in Arriondas in the Picos de Europa on our way home from our camino. (Not on a Camino but near the Salvador). My research suggests that it was an asp but I am open to correction!
View attachment 19412
Tio Tel
Definitely not an asp or any of the other Spanish viper species. Your photo quality is excellent: eyes and head scale patterns are clear and very different from the vipers. 99% certain it's a Viperine Snake - Natrix maura - which is non-venomous but likes to make big defensive displays when it feels threatened.
PS. A sure way of telling the difference between Viperine Snakes and the Spanish vipers is their eyes: the vipers have a vertical slit or oval pupil, Viperine Snakes a round one. Of course if you can see this clearly in a live snake you are probably far too close
Many thanks! Great information!@Gillean I don't know for sure what your first snake is. Certainly not a viper though. Looks very like a Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus). They grow pretty big and have the fantastic Spanish name of culebra bastardaVenomous but rear-fanged and no danger to humans. I've never seen one in the flesh and have really wanted to for years. I'm very jealous of your luck in spotting it.
Your dead one from Laza is a juvenile Ladder Snake (Rhinechis scalaris) : totally harmless though they do put up quite a grumpy display if they feel threatened. I hope that it was not killed by someone out of fear.
I don't think your final photo is a viper either. Not 100% sure but I think it is a non-venomous Viperine Snake (Natrix maura) which as the name suggests looks very like a viper and is easily and frequently mistaken for one. They do often strike defensively at threats such as your walking sticks. I am near certain that the snake @Terry B posted earlier in this thread seen in Arriondas is the same species. Grumpy behaviour but all bluff. Still a good idea to keep your distance though - partly in case your identification turns out to be wrong, but also to avoid stressing the snake. If it is snapping at your poles you are probably too close for everybody's comfort.
PS. A sure way of telling the difference between Viperine Snakes and the Spanish vipers is their eyes: the vipers have a vertical slit or oval pupil, Viperine Snakes a round one. Of course if you can see this clearly in a live snake you are probably far too close
PPS. Just looked more closely at your last photo. Hard to tell at this resolution but the visible eye looks to have a round pupil. If so then definitely not a viper.
They're not snakes !
Now this is a Snake !
[ apologies to Paul Hogan ]
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?