Heat heightens viper danger: zoologist explains Kuzbass attacks
Residents of the region are increasingly complaining about viper bites right in the city center; just this past weekend, two patients with snake venom poisoning were admitted in Kemerovo. On Monday, July 20, NGS42.RU contacted Nikolay Skalon, head of the Department of Zoology and Ecology at Kemerovo State University, to find out what forces reptiles to attack passersby.
According to the professor, the number of vipers has not changed this summer. However, their behavior is influenced by the especially hot weather.
«During the heat, vipers switch to a nocturnal lifestyle. In search of prey — small rodents, mice — they crawl out of shelters where they bask and rest during the day and can move considerable distances. Including crawling into the city limits. They can lurk in riverbeds, in thickets,» says the scientist.
In the twilight, it becomes harder for passersby to spot a snake, and by accidentally walking too close to the animal, they provoke its aggression. When the heat subsides, the snakes will switch back to a diurnal lifestyle and will be easier to avoid.
Earlier, we asked the professor when the midge invasion in Kuzbass would end and how dangerous they are.
