Last week, we visited Hungarian meadow viper release-sites and with a pipe camera we checked the artificial burrows that had been previously installed on the habitats of Fertő, Hanság, Ócsa Landscape Protection Area and Kiskunság. Our goal was to learn how many burrows are occupied by the snakes and what other species spend the winter in these hides.
As a result a total of 9 snakes were found in 8 of the 70 burrows, meaning that more than 10% of the burrows were used for hibernation. There was also a burrow where three vipers were hiding together. We were able to take photos suitable for identification of each of the snakes.
Beside the vipers, in most cases Common voles (Microtus arvalis) were using the burrows, but we also encountered one Fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) and one Common newt (Lissotriton vulgaris).
The biggest surprise was an adult male Hungarian meadow viper found on the surface, in the vicinity of one burrow. However it was only 9 °C, he was probably lured to the surface by the short period of sunshine. After identifying him, we found that the distance between the burrow, where he was released last year and his current location was 555 m, which is the largest distance measured so far for a Hungarian meadow viper movement. After measuring and taking photos, we released him in the nearby burrow, where he can safely wait for spring.
In Hanság, in one of the burrows we “greeted” a viper as an old friend. The adult female was released therein 2020. Last year, she wintered in a burrow nearby and we have already sighted her once this year with the camera trap system installed on the habitat. Now she’s 7 years old, and this is her 4th winter in the wild, slowly approaching the relevant record for released vipers.
Other snakes in the habitats spend winter in natural burrows which are usually underground tunnels previously used by rodents.
Hope to see them all in spring!
