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Thu, 04 Aug, 2016 01:15:52 AM FTimes-STT Report, Aug 4  File Photo Lehtikuva. Finland has seen more venomous snakes this year than last year.
According to the Finnish Nature League’s spring monitoring, there have been 143 viper sightings in Finland this year, compared to last year’s 111.
Snake expert Urpo Koponen monitors 10 places favoured by vipers in the Kouvola, Kotka, Pyhtää, and Loviisa areas. According to him, each of them has seen higher numbers than normal.
“Last winter was very comfortable for vipers due to the drought and the relatively mild frosts. Vipers also have a lot of food on offer, as this summer has been good for moles,” Koponen pointed out.
Researcher Janne Valkonen of the University of Jyväskylä Institute of Applied Biological and Environmental Sciences said in the long term, snake species’ populations are depleted, for example, due to changes in habitat.
“It also looks like people have been killing vipers. Finland is one of the few countries where vipers are not protected,” Valkonen said.
According to Valkonen, the increase in the number of viper sightings may be affected by the fact that vipers have been more on the move due to weather conditions, or the fact that people are reporting sightings more often.
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Finland Times
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