WALKERS and dog owners are being warned to look out for adders after reports of dogs being bitten around Poppit Sands.

There has been an increase in the number of sightings of the snake – which is a protected species - in recent days as the weather warms up and they come out of hibernation.

Nia Stephens, people and wildlife officer at the Teifi Marshes nature reserve of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said: “It is really good that the adder seems to be around a lot more than in recent years but people need to be really careful.

“The snake will be just lying there in the sun to warm up and if a dog comes along and steps on it, the chances are the snake will strike.

“It’s not just an issue at Poppit but also along the coastal path in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire as well and people need to be aware.

“The adder is a really important species and has been in decline so it is a positive thing there are more sightings. They have been undergoing a significant national decline, possibly due to a reduction in suitable habitats.

“They will not come after you but they will defend themselves if they are disturbed and out of fear that’s the only time they will strike.”

An adder bite could prove fatal to a small dog and the advice from the Kennel Club is to keep the dog calm and as still as possible and to seek veterinary help immediately. Do not attempt to apply a tourniquet or suck out the poison as this could cause further complications.

Similarly, if a person is bitten, the advice is to seek immediate medical help. Adder bites are rarely fatal to humans but you may be admitted to hospital so the bite can be assessed and your condition closely monitored.