Where winter snakes in Russia, photo

The unique ability of snakes to recover from hibernation in ancient times inspired people with mystical horror. Even in our time, snakes are credited with magical properties, using their dried skin to attract wealth and protection from enemies. Whatever it was, but gradually zoologists studied the habits and properties of reptiles. They divided them into classes and detachments and now know where the snakes winter and how they live.

Snakes in Russia

To date, snakes inhabiting Russia have been well studied, but due to the fact that their natural habitat is constantly changing due to human interference, they migrate and adapt to new places.

Conditionally, Russia can be divided into zones where these reptiles meet:

• Not so long ago, information began to appear that they began to appear in the forest-tundra. How to adapt to local conditions and where snakes are hibernating in the tundra is unknown, but reindeer herders claim that there have been cases of bites.
• In the central strip of Russia there are only 4 species of snakes, one of which is poisonous.
• The third zone covers the territory of the Black Sea coast, the shores of the Caspian, Azov and Aral Seas and the border with Kazakhstan. This territory is inhabited by 17 species of reptiles, 3 of which are poisonous, and 2, although not poisonous, but aggressive, and their bites can be very painful. Places where winter snakes (photo below) in this area are animal burrows, reed thickets or sheltered from the winds crevices in the mountains.

• Krasnodar, Stavropol, the countries of the North Caucasus and Kalmykia are the habitat for 14 species of reptiles, 3 of which are dangerous and 3 are poisonous.
• The Far East is home to 15 species of snakes, of which only three are poisonous.

The way of life and the choice of the place where the snakes winter, directly depends on their habitat. For example, in warm regions, they may not fall asleep at all, while in regions with cold winter they are forced to seek shelter warmer and away from people.

Poisonous snakes in Russia

Among the dangerous for people reptiles living in different regions of Russia are:

• Viper is a steppe - although a small snake, but its bite can cause serious human health damage, although deaths were rare. The length of its gray-brown body with a zigzag or strip on its back usually reaches 30-40 cm. It lives in meadows and steppes, but so far the grass is green. As it burns out, this snake moves closer to the ponds. He likes to bury himself in hay, where snakes of this species usually spend the winter. There were times when people bitten by a steppe viper for a long time lost sight, so it's better to avoid meeting with her.

• The Caucasian viper is listed in the Red Book and is rare, but its bite is deadly to humans. The adult grows to half a meter in length, the body color varies from yellow to dark red with a black, sometimes intermittent, stripe on the back. Dwells in forests and meadows on the slopes of the mountains. It hibernates in the crevices between the stones.

These snakes pose a mortal danger, but since they avoid human settlements, a meeting with them can only occur on their territory. Hunting or collecting mushrooms in these places, it is worthwhile to get acquainted in advance with what inhabitants you can meet here.

The most dangerous snakes in Russia

There are reptiles that are never better to be met on their way, but even they try to hide at the sight of a person, although they can harm him:

• Gyurza is one of the most dangerous snakes in Russia. In the steppe variety, the length of the body can reach two meters, although most of the individuals are 130-140 cm. These snakes live in families and are extremely aggressive at the end of May, when they begin mating. In summer they crawl together in their hunting "grounds", and in autumn they return to the place where snakes of this species winter, although they do not sleep in hibernation.
• Shtomurdnik ordinary lives in the south of Siberia and the north of Kalmykia. This snake has a greyish-yellow color with black transverse striae along the body. Seeing a person, he takes a protective pose and emits a repulsive smell, which can be felt at a distance of up to 5 m, which saved many people from his bite, which though very painful, but not fatal.

Usually snakes avoid meeting people, but can get caught accidentally, so it should be during a walk through the forest, picking mushrooms and berries just in case, tapping on the bushes and grass. Hearing the noise, the snakes crawl away.

Dangerous snakes of Russia

If you look for places where snakes winter in Russia, then the most common are haystacks or rodent burrows. They can be combined into large groups, especially in the case of steppe and forest reptiles.

There are a number of snakes that, although not toxic, can harm a person with their bite. In Russia these include:

• Yellow-bellied skid. It reaches a length of more than 1.5 m. The back color of it can be either olive or black, but the belly is always yellowish, hence the name. They live far from people in fields and steppes, but they are not afraid to settle in gardens, and even in parks. They feed on birds and small rodents, and when they meet with a person they can make a throw to a meter and bite the one who disturbed them. Stings bites are quite painful and heal for a long time. Often they settle in haystacks or in burrows of rodents, which they previously ate. Yellow-bellied sticks are tied to their home, so it always returns to it after hunting.

• The Caucasian cat's snake does not avoid people at all, and can even live under the roof of a barn and catch mice there. Its bite is not dangerous, but it is better not to tease this small, up to 75 cm in length, snake. Unlike other non-venomous snakes, she has pupils like a cat, so she was given that name. It also hibernates in hay, sheds or empty buildings.

These reptiles, although they are not dangerous to humans, it is better not to touch. It's a pity that often people, without understanding these beautiful creatures, kill perfectly safe for them snakes.

Poisonous snakes in the suburbs

In the suburbs, there is only one species of venomous snake - an ordinary viper. They live along the banks of swamps, rivers and lakes, in forests and sometimes in meadows. Vipers avoid people, but an occasional encounter can provoke a snake to bite a potential enemy. It is easy to recognize, since this species has a triangular head on a thin neck and narrow pupils of the eyes.

Places where winter snakes in the suburbs, can be completely different. For example, a single viper can lie in someone's hole or crevice at a depth of 2 meters, where it does not even get severe frosts. If there is no such place, the vipers unite into groups of up to 200 individuals and lie dormant in a less deep pit.

Non-poisonous snakes in the suburbs:

In this area there are 2 types of non-venomous snakes - snakes and copper coins. The former prefer to settle near water bodies with running water. They are often confused with vipers, and therefore exterminate, although in some countries, for example Ukraine, Belarus, in the countryside they are tamed. They are wonderful mousetraps and easily get used to people. Hibernate in deep cracks in the ground or burrows.

Cops in the suburbs

In forests where snakes spend their winter in the central part of Russia, Coppers prefer glades and felling, since there is more heat and sun. They are hammered into burrows or holes under driftwood and stones, where they sleep until the first spring heat. These incredibly beautiful snakes are also subject to extermination by humans, although they are not yet on the list of endangered animals.

In the suburbs are found in Chekhov, Klin and Podolsky districts.

Wintering of snakes in the Leningrad region

This region is inhabited by the same snakes as in the suburbs. Because of the intense heat, especially during the period from May to September, they are very active, therefore, when going into the woods or even digging in the garden, one should be attentive. But it is especially necessary to avoid meeting snakes during the Indian summer, since before hibernation they are always aggressive.

The most common in Luga, Kingisepp and Volkhov district, where snakes winter in the Leningrad region. They choose deep pits or hollows, sometimes burrow into the ground to a depth of 2 meters, where the temperature rarely falls below +3 degrees, even in frost.