Adder bites Devon man

A Devon man has been bitten by an adder, prompting a warning from health officials.

The man, in his forties, was bitten on the ankle while walking his dog near Honiton. He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital.

Public Health England (PHE) has issued a warning, urging people to be vigilant when out and about in the countryside.

Adders are native to the UK and are not usually aggressive, but they can inject venom containing toxins which can cause pain, swelling and numbness. In rare cases, it can lead to difficulty breathing and even death.

PHE is advising anyone who is bitten by an adder to:

-remove any jewellery or clothing near the bite as swelling may occur -apply a cold compress to the area (not ice) -seek medical help as soon as possible -stay calm and avoid excessive movement which will spread the venom

Adder caught on camera in Northumberland

The Northumberland countryside is home to a wide variety of wildlife, from red squirrels to owls. But one resident of the area has been causing a stir on social media in recent weeks - an adder.

A video of the snake was captured by local resident Kirsty Bogan as she walked her dog near her home in Ashington. In the footage, the adder can be seen slithering across a path before disappearing into nearby undergrowth.

Kirsty, who works as a gardener and owns four dogs, said that she was "shocked but excited" when she came across the reptile. She added that she had never seen an adder in the wild before and that it was "a real privilege".

The adder is Britain's only venomous snake and can cause serious harm if it bites someone. However, they are not considered to be particularly aggressive and tend to avoid contact with humans if possible.

In Northumberland, the adders are most likely to be found in heathland and woodland areas. They emerge from hibernation in late spring and can be spotted until late autumn.

Rare adder spotted near Warminster

A rare adder has been spotted near Warminster in Wiltshire. The adder, which is usually found in Scotland and Northumberland, was seen crossing a rode by cyclist Chris Wootton.

The adder is Britain's only venomous snake and can cause serious injury to humans. It is normally shy and will usually try to avoid humans.

Mr Wootton said "I was just cycling along when I saw this snake cross the road. At first I thought it was a grass snake, but then I realised it was an adder. I've never seen one before."

Experts believe that the adder may have travelled to Wiltshire because of the recent warm weather.

Adders could be new immigrant species

A new study has found that adders, a type of venomous snake, may have originated in North America and migrated to Europe. The study, published in the journal Molecular Ecology, used DNA sequencing to determine how the adders' genetic makeup varies between different geographic regions.

The researchers found that North American adders had a higher percentage of genetic variation than European adders. This suggests that the North American population is older, and that the snakes migrated from North America to Europe at some point in their history.

The study's lead author, Dr Jean-Philippe Chippaux from the French National Museum of Natural History, said: " our results suggest that adders may be a new immigrant species to Europe."

Adders are one of the most common types of venomous snake in Europe, but they are not found in North America. The discovery of a genetic link between the two populations could help explain why this is the case.

It is still unclear when or how the adders made their way from North America to Europe, but further research is needed to shed light on this mystery.

How to identify and avoid adders

There are several types of snakes in the UK, but only one of them is venomous - the adder. Adders are easy to identify from other snakes as they have a zigzag pattern down their back. They are also the only snake that hibernates, so if you see one in winter it's definitely an adder.

Adders can be found all over the UK, but they're most common in southern England. They live in woodland, heathland and moorland, and will sometimes enter gardens.

The best way to avoid being bitten by an adder is to know how to identify them and stay away from them. If you do see an adder, stay calm and slowly back away. If you are bitten, seek medical help immediately.

What to do if you're bitten by an adder

If you're bitten by an adder, seek medical help immediately as there is no antidote for their venom. Symptoms of an adder bite include pain, swelling and blistering at the bite site, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. In severe cases, seizures or loss of consciousness can occur.