09:41, 20 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, ARMENPRESS. There is nothing unusual in the increasing snake sightings in Yerevan and elsewhere across the country, according to a scientist.

Aram Aghasyan, a Senior Researcher at the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology at the National Academy of Sciences, says that the increased snake sightings are weather-related, among other reasons. 

The heavy rains prolonged spring and the reptiles, known for their unstable temperatures, have seemingly appeared in sight at once.

Just this weekend (June 16-18) 911 operators received 38 calls on snake sightings in the cities of Yerevan, Vagharshapat, Kapan, Berd, and several villages. Responding rescuers caught 5 Transcaucasian ratsnakes, 2 grass snakes, 2 Armenian vipers and other species and moved them to safe distances away from urban areas and released the animals into the wild.

The researcher mentioned urbanization as another reason of the increased snake sightings.

“The fact that construction works are taking place next to many towns is also no less important, new roads are under construction and people are entering the snake habitat, taking over their biotope,” Aghasyan said.

There are 23 species of snakes in Armenia, 16 of which are found around Yerevan, particularly in Davitashen, Avan, the Hrazdan Gorge, as well as along the road to Ashtarak. There is a 1 in 20 chance of coming across a venomous snake in Armenia. The only venomous snake found in the areas around Yerevan is the blunt-nosed viper, while the other three venomous species are found in high mountainous terrains, thus it’s highly unlikely for people to run into them.

But the chances of coming across snakes increase with the tourism season, and since many people living in urban cities prefer to spend weekends in the countryside.

If you do come across a snake, remember not to panic. Snakes will never be the first to attack and usually avoid humans, Aghasyan said.

“Cases of getting bit are due to inattentiveness by people, when they accidently step on a snake, triggering an instant self-defense instinct. In case of being bit, you must immediately seek treatment at the nearest hospital. There’s no need to panic, and people who get bit mostly start feeling sick from the stress and fear itself,” the researcher said.

All hospitals are equipped with antivenoms and there are various types of treatment.

Do not apply a tourniquet and do not slash the wound with a knife or cut it in any way, the expert said. You can also wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing, to stop bleeding. 

There’s one in a million chance of a snake bite fatally piercing a large blood vessel.

Usually, even in the gravest cases victims have up to 4 hours to reach a hospital.

Aghasyan called on travel agencies and guides to be trained and equipped to handle such situations, particularly to have antishock and anti allergy shots and be aware of the terrain.