Norway is a fascinating country with a wide variety of natural beauty and wildlife. Given its harsh winters, many people don’t expect cold-blooded reptiles like snakes while exploring the country’s wilderness. However, the kingdom is home to a few snake species.
Norway is home to three primary species of snakes. The venomous Vipera berus is the most common. The grass snake (Natrix natrix), and the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) are the two most common non-venomous snake species. They dwell in the country’s lush grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands.
We will be looking closely at each snake species living in Norway and another reptile species people often mistake for a snake.
3 Snake Species of Norway
It’s rather uncommon for humans to encounter snakes. Due to Norway’s cold weather, these cold-blooded animals spend most of their time brumating and sheltering themselves from the icy weather. They’ll only come out of their nests in the early summer to enjoy the sunlight and warmth.
Regardless, it’s always a good idea to know about the creatures you might meet on your adventure through Norway’s wilderness. So, let’s get to know the appearance and characteristics of these snakes.
1. The Common Viper (Vipera berus)
The common viper, or European adder, is the only venomous snake in Norway. But despite its venom, it’s generally not considered dangerous.
Also known as Hoggorm in Norway, this snake is not aggressive and will only bite when provoked. So, you should always treat this species with respect and caution.
The common viper’s bite is rarely fatal to adult humans. In fact, Norway only reports one death from this snake every ten years despite documenting 200-500 bite incidents annually.
That said, this species’ venom can still cause intense pain and other symptoms. Moreover, it poses a great danger for children and pets, such as dogs and cats.
The effects of the viper’s venom include:
- Shock and mental confusion
- Swelling, redness, and bruising at the location of the bite
- Painful, itchy lumps at the area of the bite
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Breathing difficulties
- Irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness and fainting
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat
- Internal bleeding
- Necrosis at the area of the bite
In 70 percent of cases, victims of this snake only experience local symptoms, such as pain and swelling at the location of the bite. However, the risk of infection and more serious symptoms are still present.
If you get bitten by this snake, you must seek medical attention immediately as symptoms can develop rapidly within just 1-2 hours. Medical professionals will administer an antidote to prevent the symptoms from worsening. They will also monitor your symptoms and responses for up to 8 hours to rule out any possibility of severe adder poisoning.
So, how can you identify this species?
The first thing you’ll notice is the snake’s relatively large body. Most common vipers measure around 60 cm (23.62 inches) long. Plus, their bodies are quite thick, and they have large heads with nearly flat sides.
Common vipers are sexually dimorphic, meaning the males and females have distinct appearances. Male vipers may be gray or whitish with a black zigzag pattern on the back and a dark V-shape on the head. Meanwhile, females are usually reddish with brown markings.
Lastly, these snakes are often found in wetlands, woodlands, moorlands, and cold grasslands. So, be aware of your surroundings when exploring those areas.
2. Grass Snake or Water Snake (Natrix natrix)
Known as Buorm in Norway, the grass or water snake is often found near bodies of water. This species preys on small fish and amphibians. As a natural swimmer, this species spends most of its time in the water.
Unlike the common viper, the grass snake is not venomous. But that’s not an invitation to touch or hold this snake. Grass snakes rarely bite in defense. However, when they do, be prepared to experience extreme pain.
Thankfully, this species is not aggressive; you’re unlikely to get bitten if you leave them alone.
These snakes look quite similar to the venomous common viper. But here’s how you can tell them apart from the common viper.
First, while they have similar brown and grayish colors, they don’t have a zigzag pattern on the dorsal. Moreover, grass snakes have a unique yellow spot on their neck.
Grass snakes are also way larger than common vipers. They can reach up to 120 cm (47.24 inches) in length.
These snakes can also produce a garlic-like smell from their anal glands and pretend to be dead when they feel threatened. Interestingly, they may also act like cobras to intimidate potential predators. They will raise the front part of their body and flatten their head to resemble a cobra’s hood.
3. Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)
Also known as Slettsnok, this species has smooth and flat scales, and it’s usually dark brown or gray.
It looks almost identical to the common viper, but the markings on its body are different. Smooth snakes typically have two rows of dark spots running down its back. They also have a crown-shaped dark marking on top of their heads.
The Slettsnok is also somewhat bigger than common vipers; adult smooth snakes can grow up to 75 cm (29.5 inches) in length.
Often found along the coast of southern Norway, humans rarely see this species out and about.
Smooth snakes tend to be timid. They prefer to spend most of their time under warm rocks. Even when they wish to bask under the sun, they still like to conceal themselves among plants to stay camouflaged.
Additionally, smooth snakes are often spotted during and after rain showers. This is because their hiding spots tend to get flooded, so they must come out to escape the rising water.
These creatures are not venomous or aggressive. They’re more likely to run away or stay motionless than fight when they feel threatened. So, they’re considered harmless to humans.
However, of course, they can still bite when provoked, especially when captured.
A Pseudo-Snake Species: Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis)
Aside from the three snake species mentioned above, you might encounter one more slithering creature in Norway: the slow worm or Stålorm.
Although it has a snake-like appearance, the stålorm is a legless lizard. While it may appear scary to most people, this creature is completely harmless as it does not bite at all.
Slow worms are often found in domestic gardens, hiding underneath a stone, log, or other solid objects while waiting for their prey. They usually eat slugs, snails, and other common garden pests, making them extremely useful for gardeners.
But how will you know if the creature you just met is a snake or a harmless stålorm?
The most tell-tale sign is the animal’s size. Slow worms only measure about 50 cm (19.68 inches) long, far smaller than the real snakes in Norway.
Another distinct feature of these animals is their thin eyelids, and unlike snakes, they also have tiny ear holes.
Slow worms have brown or grayish-brown bodies with long stripes down their back. They also have black bellies and gold or silver dorsal sides.
Lastly, since they are lizards, they can detach their tails (autotomy) when they feel threatened.
