what's the best thing if one hikes barefoot in places where sometimes an occasional viper can come in ? I mean, besides wearing boots or changing place. I started thinking that extra long sturdy trousers can be of some help but i also wish to hear something from others' experiences .
Yikes, that might just agitate them... I dunno... You could wear some kind of strong leather things around your legs; it seems more likely that they'd bite there than your feet.
I always wear shorts and I have no idea what I would do in dangerous snake country. I'm afraid long pants are not an option, since most poisonous snakes live in much warmer places than where I live. I can't wear long pants here, so how could I stand it in a hotter place? (We have no poisonous snakes.) Point taken, though, about the likelihood of snakes to go for the legs than the feet.
It's better to give them some kind of warning than taking them by surprise. As far as I know, most snakes would rather leave, fighting only when they feel cornered or they are already stepped on. A rattlesnake will warn you if you get too close, but it has to know you're there. Remember, bare feet make far less noise than shoes. You might end up stepping on a snake who didn't sense your presence.
You might find this useful: My father used to hunt in the rain forests of Davao del Norte (this was during the old days when we still had lots of forests). He told me that before taking a single step, first he would scan the entire area before him up to about ten or so paces. If it's clear, then he would walk forward. After ten paces, he would stop and repeat the process. Someone suggested stomping as you go along. What I do is I follow my father's strategy, but before I step forward I also stomp hard a few times. If I have a walking stick with me (I usually don't) I also thump the ground a few times. Then I walk forward quickly. The safest is really to avoid tall grass, but if it can't be avoided then just be careful. Best to brush up on your first aid skills too.
well in fact I think that seohsreven's advice is correct, a big stick is missing in my hiking kit. also leather protections could work, but wearing them together with long trousers during summer is too much for me to bear. one thing i didnt mention is, i suspect that near dusk one's less likely to trip over a snake because they're already in their holes. when it's hot they are more vivacious, isn't ? in my experience i dont remember of snake sightings at sunset time.
I think it depends on the kind of snake? The snakes in my place prefer to stay hidden in the day because it's hot, and like to come out at night and crawl on the road because the pavement absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night. Although I do occasionally see a snake during daytime - usually just crossing the road. Sometimes I see a dead snake that has been flattened by a passing vehicle - I guess they can't sense the approaching car fast enough. What kind of snakes do you have in Italy? Here we have Philippine cobra, King cobra, and reticulated python, among others.
We have rattlesnakes, king snakes, gopher snakes, garter snakes, yellow bellied racers, and coachwhips here in California. I see them now and then, but I've never stepped on one so far. I try to stay on the trail as much as I can.
where i live snakes are a huge problem... ive litteraly been places where i could see over 100 water moccasins at once... and steped on some and steped back to realize i just missed another thats right by me... best bet is to make noise ide say they usually run... except for some black racers we have around here that will chase u too the end of the world if u dont find a quick getaway.... and yeah ide reccomend some boots for the tallgrass or shallow water walking and snakes are out at night i almost died about a year ago... doctor said only thing that saved my life was i got bit in water and most the poison came out after the bite...
Vipers (vipera aspis), snakes of 'Coluber' gender, 'natrix' (large and not poisonous). in some parts , not here, there is also the deadly horned viper. btw we also have common scorpions (i've found a lot of them, they hurt but are not deadly plus they happen to be very, very shy and not aggressive) and poisonous spiders like the "Volterrano" (poisonous or deadly, it's a black widow with thirteen red spots). nothing similar to cobras , but enough to be concerned.
The only poisonous snake we have in the UK is the Adder, which is not particularly dangerous, and is so rare i've never seen one.
