Here are the vipers: why snakes have become more likely to attack people
Snake activity was recorded in more than ten regions — medical institutions and territorial departments of the Ministry of Emergency Situations began to report a wave of cases of reptile attacks on humans. Vipers mostly attack. Experts warn that the snake population has increased this year due to the warm winter and early spring. Another reason for the increased frequency of attacks is the period of reptilian mating activity, which will end around June. About how to avoid bites and prepare for walks in the forest — in the material of Izvestia.
The snake population has grown
Since the beginning of the period of snake activity, that is, since April 2025, their appearance in forests and parks has been reported in at least ten regions. And since the beginning of May, reports of snakes attacking people have become more frequent. Local residents also write about them on social networks, and the regional emergency management departments warn. Cases of snake attacks on people have been recorded in at least six regions, Izvestia estimates.
For example, in the Chelyabinsk region, a viper bit a schoolboy.
"The boy approached the viper lying on the road and started filming it on his phone. This led to an instant reaction: the snake bit his finger! — it says on the page of the administration of the Verkhneufaleysky city district of this region. — He needed urgent medical attention. The bite of a viper is very dangerous, especially for children! The consequences can be severe."
Four cases of snake bites have been reported in the Nizhny Novgorod region. According to the regional toxicological center at the city clinical hospital No. 33, all the victims needed hospitalization.
Snakes attacked a 63-year-old woman and a teenager in the Leningrad region. The child needed medical help.
Also, reports of snake attacks are received by the fire and rescue services of the Stavropol and Krasnodar territories. Residents there complain of aggressive snakes and snakes that look like runners.
However, this year's statistics include not only wild snakes. For example, this spring in Novorossiysk, a woman was attacked by a boa constrictor who lived at her house. The victim needed medical help, the city's rescue service said.
— For the first time in Novorossiysk, rescuers were called to a boa constrictor! A woman called us and informed us that her pet boa constrictor had bitten through and wrapped itself around her arm and she alone could not do anything with it," Alexey Oderov, head of the Novorossiysk rescue service, wrote on social media.
The warm winter and the rapid onset of heat increased the food supply for snakes and created favorable conditions for their survival, said veterinarian Mikhail Shelyakov.
—A mild winter and a warm spring led to an early awakening of snakes in March this year and, as a result, a sharp increase in their population, as more individuals survived than last year," he explained.
Vladislav Starkov, a herpetologist, also said that the snake population has increased due to the warm winter, and also noted that this year it is more likely to encounter snakes in crowded places. According to him, temperature changes have negatively affected the frog population in the wild, and now the reptiles are looking for food near people.
What is the reason for the aggressiveness of snakes?
They traditionally have a period of searching for a partner for procreation in May, Vladimir Pinaev, associate professor at the Institute of Ecology of the Rudn University, noted in an interview with Izvestia. However, he noted that snakes do not prey on humans and attack only in self-defense.
Vladimir Pinaev also recalled that there are vipers, copperheads and grass snakes in central Russia.
— More exotic species can be extremely rare. I would like to note that although it is not poisonous, it can cause infection with a bite, and not every snake bite can be accompanied by an injection of venom. Southern snake species are more venomous," he added.
According to the Center for Hygienic Education of the Population of Rospotrebnadzor, there are more than 50 species of snakes in Russia, 11 of them are dangerous. The most common are the common viper, steppe viper, nosy viper, Caucasian viper, gyurza viper, and sand viper.
Mikhail Shelyakov noted that snakes mostly attack the legs and arms.
"But they can also bite you in the face." This location is considered the most dangerous. The further away the bite is from the head, the safer it is," the veterinarian added.
He also noted that allergy-prone people should avoid snake bites in any part of the body, as this is more likely to lead to death than in people without allergies.
Nina Zubova, a surgeon at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia that a viper bite is most often not fatal: the mortality rate is 1-2%. Ekaterina Terentyeva, head of the Invitro Medical examination department, stressed that the reaction to a snake bite may vary depending on the type of reptile and the amount of venom injected.
"The poison can cause disorders of the heart, kidneys, and central nervous system, which can lead to seizures, paralysis, impaired breathing, swallowing, and speech," she said.
Zoologist Mikhail Verevkin stressed that after a snake bite, the venom should never be sucked out and did not recommend using ice and cold compresses, as well as applying a bandage.
How to protect yourself while walking
When going for walks in forests and parks, you need to wear light-colored clothes, but tight and closed high-top shoes, said Vladimir Pinaev.
"If you encounter a snake, it's best to avoid it and not experiment with close contact,— he added.
The expert also recommended walking in the woods and parks without headphones and music, so as not to miss the warning signals — hissing.
To avoid encountering snakes on household plots, he advised mowing the grass on and around them, as well as clearing the nearby area of debris.
It is advisable to study the signs of harmless and venomous snakes before going out into nature, the State Hunting Inspectorate of the Vladimir region warned.
"If you suddenly notice a snake crawling, freeze, give it a chance to leave. If the snake has assumed a threatening pose, step back slowly. Avoid sudden movements that frighten the snake," the agency noted.
They also reminded that it is forbidden to put your hands forward in defense and turn your back to the snake.
"If you have a stick, hold it in front of you towards the snake. Do not run away from the snake you encounter — you can step on another unnoticed one. Keep calm in your decisions, actions, and gestures. Remember, a snake that you do not see is dangerous, a detected snake does not pose a threat," the website says.
The ministry stressed that alcohol is not an antidote, but, on the contrary, makes it difficult to remove the poison from the body, enhances its effect. And they called for giving the victim more tea, broth and water. After a bite, it is important to immediately call an ambulance, and then provide first aid to the victim.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
