If you're scared of snakes, walking through the countryside can result in more than a little trepidation. Every movement looks like a slither to you, and if you are a dog walker you have the added fear of your inquisitive pet, who loves searching through the undergrowth and investigating everything it sees, being given a sharp bite on the nose.
Following the recent heatwave last month, there have been reports of an increase in snake sightings on some beaches in Wales. New research has also shown a record-breaking increase in reported snake bite-related injuries in the UK.
These reports may cause concern but most of the reported injuries in the report were actually caused by pet snakes, not ones ambushing wary walkers and curious canines. In fact, Dr Kevin Arbuckle, a herpetologist (snake expert) at Swansea University, said snake populations had actually "declined massively" over the past few decades. You can get more environment news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
