April, May and June are the months when snakes are most active, so caution is recommended while we are in nature, Lidija Leković, a herpetologist at the Natural History Museum, told Boje jutra TV Vijesti.
There are 15 species of snakes in Montenegro, three of which are vipers, and only the viper and the garter snake are dangerous to humans, with the viper being found in lower areas.
"These are usually places that provide adequate shelter, since they are afraid of humans and not only humans, but also some other animals whose prey they are, such as birds. So these are mostly some hidden places, for example in our yards and some urban areas. These can be piles of rubble, uncut grass, bushy areas, literally stacked firewood. They mostly move around within the perimeter of their shelter and can be seen sunbathing occasionally, but they mostly choose hidden places for sunbathing because sunbathing is very necessary for them to be able to carry out some of their daily activities, since they are cold-blooded animals," said Leković.
When asked how to react if we find a snake in our yard or on our property, Leković answers:
"There are some ways to repel them with various repellents, there are even natural-based snake repellents, there are also some substances that, for example, have strong odors, so we can repel them with those substances, such as sulfur or naphthalene. So, there are various means, but I'm telling you, if you don't mind her staying in your yard, then it's best to let her go on her own. She usually stays there, we just don't see her most of the time," said Leković.
She also pointed out that, given the effects of the venom of our snakes, there have been almost no recorded deaths, and that there is usually enough time between the bite and receiving the serum, which should only be administered by a professional.
"Tying up above the bite site to slow the spread of venom through our body is only recommended if we have to drive hours to the emergency room," she pointed out.
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