A VERY patient Scottish pupil support worker has captured stunning images of the country’s only poisonous snake making an early wake-up from hibernation.
Beverley Thain, 58, snapped the adder just three feet away from her in the Cairngorms National Park at the weekend.
Though potentially deadly to humans, the snakes are extremely timid and Beverley, from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, said it was the first time she had seen one.
An adder’s bite could prove fatal to a very young, ill or old person, but they pose a real risk to small pets. An adder is believed to have claimed the life of a three-and-a-half year old champion whippet, North, in Stirling last year.
Beverley said: “I have wanted to find and photograph adders for a long time now.
“They are poisonous but it was quite relaxed. I was only about three feet from it and had to change to a smaller lens to take the photo.”
Commenting on the photos, viewers were amazed to the see the snake out of hibernation so early.
Robert Sharp commented: “In March that’s very early to see them.”
Sheila Harper said: “Seems early in the year to see them…but lovely pics”
Janet Norah McGregor wrote: “Bit early to see one, mild winter I suppose.”
Whilst others said they had never seen one before, despite living in Scotland for some time.
Graham Barrie wrote: “In all the 47 years of being Scottish I’ve never seen one in real life.”
Lee Blake replied: “I have never seen one ever & we grew up in the country side”
Duncan Mcgregor said: “Lived near Cairngorms for 50 years, never seen one.”
The stocky viper is protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and classified as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
Adult Adder’s can grow up to two feet in length and are usually found on rocky hillsides, woodland and moorland.
