If you go wandering along the waterside in Switzerland, there is a chance you’ll come across more snakes.
Experts and casual observers all agree there are more of them, but don’t worry they’re harmless.
Mostly.
There are three water snakes in Switzerland – the grass snake, the viperine snake, so called because it can be confused with the venomous viper, but is actually safe. And the tessellated snake.
Experts are more worried about the tessellated snake as its normally found in southern Europe, but warmer weather mean it’s becoming more common north of the Alps and is threatening the viperine, as it has the same diet – and is voracious.
There is only one poisonous snake in the country, the asp viper. But medical advances mean there’s no danger. Only one person has died since 1961.
But it is important to get treatment if bitten.
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