Bethan Palfrey from Ebbw Vale has issued a warning after a frightening encounter with an adder at a popular Welsh beauty spot. On June 25, she was walking with her partner at the Moors mountain, near the B4560, when she nearly stepped on the venomous snake.
Footage Shows Snake Striking
Video captured by Palfrey shows the adder recoiling before snapping forward and hissing. She described the snake as “incredibly beautiful” and recognized it as an adder by the V-shaped marking on its head and distinctive red eyes. Palfrey noted that the snake was likely a juvenile due to its lighter color and small size.
She said: “My partner and I decided to park up on the mountain not far from my house. It’s a well known spot where we and others usually go to watch the sunset. However that day we went earlier on to enjoy the sun and take a stroll down the mountain.”
Joke Turned Real
Palfrey had joked with her partner about being careful in the tall grass to avoid snakes. As they returned to their car, she spotted movement inches from her shoe. “As I looked down only about an inch or two from my shoe was the snake, already balled up and hissing,” she said. She believes the snake was in attack mode because she stepped too close.
Palfrey shared her footage online to warn others that adders can be found in the area. Adder bites are painful but rarely fatal to humans; however, some people may experience severe reactions. The NHS advises anyone bitten by a snake to go to A&E immediately.
Risk to Dogs
Palfrey also highlighted the danger to pets. “We wanted to get a video and some photos of the beautiful creature not only to warn people, as a bite from one can [rarely] kill a person if left untreated but they’re also known for killing dogs,” she said. She urged dog walkers to be vigilant.
According to experts, adders face extinction in the UK by 2032. They are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Palfrey hopes to send her footage to experts to help track adder populations.
