Countryside Threats

Just when you were thinking of taking the cherubs for a picnic in the British countryside, BBC News has posted a list of the dangerous creatures you might encounter to spoil your trip and even end your life. Believe it or not, cows are top of the list. At the last count they kill 6 people a year, twice as many as do bulls. If they have calves, they defend them by attacking. Dog walkers can be in trouble, because cows see your pet pooch as a dangerous wolf. Wild boars also see dogs as wolves and can attack dog walkers. Adders, Britain's only venomous snakes, can often be found sunbathing. If you tread on one or interfere with it, you are likely to be bitten. So is your dog. About 100 cases of adder bites are reported in the UK every year, but the last person to die of an adder bite was in 1975. The bite is painful and requires medical attention. Red deer are timid animals, but get stroppy in the autumn rut and have huge antlers. False widow spiders give an extremely painful bite which may require medical attention. Ticks, which your dog may pick up on his fur, can transmit Lyme disease, which can cause arthritis and even death if untreated. Their preferred host is red deer, so ticks in areas frequented by red door are the ones to avoid. CLICK for more details. The BBC forgets to mention that stings from wasps or bees can cause anaphylactic shock. a severe allergic reaction which can cause death. This is an urgent problem. Call 999 for an ambulance. Have a nice picnic!