Just noted hybernation phase is October-April so after another week or two should be fine!

Although I hate snakes - (don't mind spiders or other bugs, crawlie things - maybe it's the lack of legs?) I still read this thread through. I couldn't pull myself away and all the way I had/have goose bumps and feel like I want to find a puppy to snuggle until the bad snakes have left my brain ...

(by the way - v. interesting and informative info - I learned much...thank you - I think?...)

ARGHHHH! i live in the kloten area...pls tell me you saw that only once, yorkie!

ps. if that thing is a "worm", imanotter...heh

But salmon and even sturgeon were common in Rhine and many rivers of Europe before we started destroying their habitat.

The wels catfish is also indigenous to some lakes and rivers in northern Switzerland. This is a relict from times when these bodies of water had a connection to the river Danube.

Many reptiles like snakes and turtles were much more common in Switzerland in previous times than they are today. Unfortunately we got rid of many of the swamps and the stonewalls they need.

I've seen a grass snake swimming in lake Zurich quite a long time ago.

Really stupid people chased it when it reached shore.

Luckily it found some hole in a wall and escaped.

Do you think that there will be snakes who live underneath water in Lake of Leman? I am sooo afraid

First of all no, it could not have been an eel. Eels do not crawl onto land unless forced to do so to move from one lake to another. Somehow I doubt this is what you saw given your location. This is very rarely seen.

Secondly, there are no such thing as fresh water snakes, and most certainly no such snakes in Switzerland. However, most land-based snakes do like water and are all good swimmers.

I spend a lot of time out in nature in CH and I can assure all there is nothing to be afraid of. However, rather leave stuff alone not so much for your safety but for their precious preservation.

I would guess that it was a grass snake

http://66.196.80.202/babelfish/trans...2520natrix.htm

Rod

I saw a my first wild snake swimming today at the botanical gardens in Zurich.. he saw me and did a 180 and swam to hide in some vegetation, later he got courage to swim out again and swam between the lillypads gracefully whilst little green frogs on his path kicked away to avoid him. Was the highlight of my visit. I've no idea if he was a grass snake but a snake for sure. So if you visit the little pond there you might be graced with the opportunity to get a glimpse of this delightful fella in his natural habit (albeit a botanical garden!).

Was wandering do vipers live in this part of Switzerland or do they prefer the alps or southern parts of the country like Ticino?

All is revealed here.

(article in German: basically, there's a big snake living in Lake Zurich, but it's very friendly and you can watch a video of it)

Everytime I go jogging, I run the risk of tripping over a snake.....'til those tight running shorts from Asics solved the problem

Now now, ladies, no pushing....form an orderly queue

Dangit... I moved back to Switzerland from the states, because of the snakes... (well... partially) now I find out that they were illegally dumped at the Seedam???
I just can't get used to them, and I am not one of the easily freaked out people

UUGGHH! I moved here from Colorado (last year Denver/Aurora had to close down several dog parks due to high rattle snake population and bites). A little boy got bit by one at the Botanical Gardens, he was just walking along and didn't even see it, so no he wasn't taunting it.

So after moving here I've been running quite a bit. I guess with my head in the clouds thinking, yeah, no snakes here! Wrong! I don't like anything that slithers. Rodents, lizards no problem but snakes - keep them away from me!

There is a sign along the wooden footbridge near Rapperswil showing what wildlife enjoys the habitat of the shallow waters and snakes are shown to be there. It's an interesting place: people lived on stilted huts and fished that area thousands of years ago.

I was bitten on my ankle by a viper last week but that was on the 33 bus. Hot evening, packed bus, loads of shopping bags, FANGS. I went straight to a pharmacy and there was an electronic advertising screen by the till warning people to seek immediate medical attention if such a thing happens, so it must be on the increase. Thanks to the lovely ladies they fixed me up in no time.

It hurt like hell for three days but the codeine tablets helped. Coming down is not worth the going up, though. Prescription drugs suck.

__________________
Wave ¦ Synthpop ¦ 80's ¦ Alternative ¦ Party ¦ Sat 24.03 Provitreff Zurich

Am I missing the joke or did you seriously get bitten on a bus by a snake?

a Viper on a bus???

why are snakes so scary? Unless you're coming across one of these buggers all coiled up I really don't see what the big deal is.

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No....... Uncle Max went to the Apotheke for some headache tablets.

He was given some Codiene and began halucinating.


Last week he thought he was a WW2 fighter pilot who shot down the Red barron.


Codiene is awesome stuff.

Back on topic.

I remember asking some Swiss colleagues about snakes here.

"Are any snakes poisonous here?"

"Oh yes, we have Viper, and if it bites you, you will get really sick !!!"

"..... Really sick........ is that all? ....Bbbwahh Ha Ha Ha Ha !!!..... a bad Hangover will make you really sick"


Moral of the Story:
Drink heavily the night before hiking in the mountains in case you get bitten by a snake.

Best to take 2x60g codeine tablets before heavy drinking to kill two birds with one stone, so to say.