Snake / Grass Snake

Squamata spp.

✓What to do NOW

1IDENTIFICATION: the viper has a triangular head, vertical (elliptical) pupils, stocky body, short tail
2Common grass snakes (Natrix natrix) have an oval head, round pupils, marked neck, often a pale collar
3If injured: do not touch — call CRAS or Provincial Police
4If bitten by a viper: immobilise the limb, do not tourniquet, go to A&E with a description of the animal
5Stay calm (elevated heart rate speeds the spread of venom)

✗NEVER do this

✗Never touch a snake without having positively identified the species
✗Do not kill it — it is illegal for all species and non-specialists risk being bitten in the attempt
✗In case of bite: DO NOT apply a tourniquet, DO NOT suck out the venom, DO NOT cut the wound (all increase damage)
✗Do not apply ice to the wound

⚠ Important note

In Italy there are two vipers: Vipera aspis (Alps and Apennines) and Vipera berus (Alps only). A viper bite is painful and causes significant local swelling, rarely lethal in healthy adults if treated. The antivenom (Viperfav) is available in Italian emergency departments. The most important therapy is pain management and medical surveillance.

⚖ Legal protection

All Italian reptiles are protected by Law 157/1992. Killing or capturing snakes is a criminal offence, including vipers.

Also known as

grass snakevipercolubridwater snakedice snakesmooth snake

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