Behavioral tips for snake encounters
Snakes are found throughout Switzerland. However, the Swiss Plateau is almost completely spared of the two native poisonous snake species, the asp viper (Vipera aspis) and the adder (Vipera berus). They prefer to lie on the sunny slopes of the Jura and the Alps. Although their population is generally declining, and in some regions they are even threatened with extinction, they are still quite common locally.
General recommendations
Encountering a poisonous snake in its preferred habitat is therefore not uncommon even today, so anyone working or travelling in the countryside should observe the following rules of conduct:
Caution should always be exercised around snakes, as it is almost impossible for laypeople to distinguish between poisonous and harmless snakes from a distance. The colouring and markings of many snakes are extremely variable, and some poisonous species have the same colouring as non-poisonous species. More precise distinguishing features cannot be identified from a distance.
Rules of conduct for prevention
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Never walk barefoot in unclear terrain; wear good footwear and long trousers (including children).
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Do not allow small children to play in unclear areas and explain to them the danger that a snake can pose if they behave incorrectly, e.g. if they provoke it.
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Do not touch the snake or disturb it. Instead, draw attention to yourself and give it a chance to escape. If it remains where it is, walk calmly past it at a distance of about 2 metres.
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Check your resting place for snakes before using it.
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Do not reach into bushes and undergrowth without thinking. Berry and mushroom pickers should first tap bushes with a stick to scare away any snakes that may be hiding underneath.
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Be careful when reaching into places where you cannot see, e.g. wood piles, dry stone walls or piles of stones.
When picking up stones, boards or similar objects, make sure that snakes are not hiding underneath. -
Do not sleep outdoors on the ground without protection in areas where snakes are common; sleep in a tent or on a camp bed instead.
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Only collect wood at night with a torch.
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Have you spotted snakes around your house? Then it is best to remove all hiding places and clear the area: keep the grass short and remove undergrowth, piles of leaves and stones, boards lying around, sheet metal and asbestos sheets.
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If possible, stack wood in the shade, as snakes prefer places warmed by the sun as hiding places.
