Uruguay Forum

mjferriesmcgrew
Joined 2015
Posts: 133

6 years ago

snakes, and dogs, at the beach

6 years ago

i thought i'd try to switch our dogs thread over, in case someone is looking for reptile info., and doesnt know yet how we wander off thread on this blog!? Dont kid yourself about not having rattlers becuz your property isnt rocky. = the rattlesnake has to be one of the most adaptable reptiles on the planet. i almost stepped on one on my front porch near L.A. , but i also spent summers , when i was a kid in Iowa, where they like to hang out in corn fields, where nary a rock is to be seen. Rattlers are listed as one of the 4 poisonous snakes in URuguay. ( and no, i dont remember the 4th one ) The way snake safety has been explained to me is "in the spring and fall, they are cold, so keep an eye out when in rocky areas. In summer , they are going to be in shady , moister areas, cuz they get hot. " They are cold blooded, so have to regulate body temp . by moving to warmer and colder areas. They dont like dogs so having dogs on the property is a good idea , and cats are good snake catchers, too, as far as the little snakes. 3 years ago, in november, when i first moved to Uruguay, i spent a week in Cabo Polonia and i saw 5 brown snakes! -all dead, killed by the dogs there. They were pretty big, and NOT like the rattlesnakes I was used to. So i am thinking they were yraras(?) If i remember correctly, i havent looked this back up for several years, the yrara is dangerous becuz they live in brackish water areas, like the beach grasses - they like that mixture of salt and fresh waters. I read that one of the fatalities of the Dolores flood , over a year ago, was a child who was bitten by a yrara - and they said that the flood waters had altered where those snakes are usually found. so, i never hike in just tennis shoes, i do yard work , etc. in hiking boots and thick socks, carry a stick ( easy for me, as i carry a cane anyway ) and i never rest on top of rocky outcroppings, this time of year. I figure they are the most dangerous now, as they just finished winter dormancy, so are cold, hungry, and cranky. I have heard of local herbal healers out here in Lavalleja who know which leaves to immediately wrap around a snake bite and when you look up the uses for local plants a bunch of them are listed as good for snake bite. - knowing where the stuff grows fresh being the problem for those of us who buy our herbs at the fera? ( and the guides say uruguay has pit vipers, too, but i think those are all up in the jungle-y areas near Brazil? )

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Living in Uruguay Guide

Many expats who consider living in Uruguay have lived in other South American countries, and then they are exposed to stories of all that it has to offer.

Uruguay Forum
Join our Uruguay forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Uruguay.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Uruguay.

Best Places to Live in Uruguay

If you're dreaming about living in Uruguay, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Uruguay in 2023.

Healthcare in Uruguay

Expats in Uruguay have a variety of healthcare options available to them. Understanding what is available is an important part of preparing to move there.

Cost of Living in Uruguay

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Uruguay.

Moving to Uruguay Guide

Expats who move to Uruguay offer a lot of advice about moving there. There are several aspects of living in Uruguay that need to be taken into consideration: health care, cost of living, transportation and types of housing are just a few of the areas to investigate.

Real Estate in Uruguay

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Uruguay.

Pros & Cons of Living in Uruguay

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Uruguay.

Retiring in Uruguay

Advice for people retiring in Uruguay.

10 Tips for Living in Uruguay

If you've recently arrived in Uruguay, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Uruguay.

Additional Information:

Visit our Uruguay Index for a Full List

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Contribute
Help others in Uruguay by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Uruguay.