Why?

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   Hi all
I am a new member, made aware of your group by David Bird. I contacted David, about a tree climbing adder a few weeks ago. My email is copied below, 

Dear David
I was wondering if you help us with a query about adders. Whilst leading a guided yesterday in Queen Elizabeth Forest, (near Petersfield, Hants) I came across what was probably a female adder approx 24 - 28 inches in length climbing up a Western Hemlock tree. The tree was about 1.6 metres circumference at the base and the adder successfully climb to about a height of about 2metres, the circumference here being about 1 metre. There were very few branches available to the adder and it very cleverly used the protruding knots that were left from where branches had once been. We watched the adder for about 15 minutes, before it carefully picked it way down the tree, dropping about to the ground from about 1/2 metre. I then slid off none the worst for its adventure.
Whilst I have seen adders climb through scrub vegetation and heather, I have never seen an adder climb such a tree. None of my colleagues had ever seen such a sight before.
I was wondering how common this is ? and the question comes to mind why was it climbing the tree.
I have seen snakes such as boomslangs, in South Africa going through trees, but they seem to be designed for it, I did not know that members of the viper / adder family actually climb trees.
We managed to take some digital pictures of the adder, although they do not really do the event justice.
I would welcome your comments ?

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peachey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote peachey Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 Sep 2004 at 2:29pm
	Hi all I am a new member, made aware of your group by David Bird. I contacted David, about a tree climbing adder a few weeks ago. My email is copied below, Dear David I was wondering if you help us with a query about adders. Whilst leading a guided yesterday in Queen Elizabeth Forest, (near Petersfield, Hants) I came across what was probably a female adder approx 24 - 28 inches in length climbing up a Western Hemlock tree. The tree was about 1.6 metres circumference at the base and the adder successfully climb to about a height of about 2metres, the circumference here being about 1 metre. There were very few branches available to the adder and it very cleverly used the protruding knots that were left from where branches had once been. We watched the adder for about 15 minutes, before it carefully picked it way down the tree, dropping about to the ground from about 1/2 metre. I then slid off none the worst for its adventure. Whilst I have seen adders climb through scrub vegetation and heather, I have never seen an adder climb such a tree. None of my colleagues had ever seen such a sight before. I was wondering how common this is ? and the question comes to mind why was it climbing the tree. I have seen snakes such as boomslangs, in South Africa going through trees, but they seem to be designed for it, I did not know that members of the viper / adder family actually climb trees. We managed to take some digital pictures of the adder, although they do not really do the event justice. I would welcome your comments ?
	Steve Peach Conservation Ranger Queen Elizabeth Country Park & Butser Hill NNR