Comments on Turkey Traveller: Poisonous creepy crawlies and snakes in Turkey

Change are almost negligible - probably because yo...

2011-12-17T22:36:06.415Z

Change are almost negligible - probably because you won't see them! I visited Turkey last year, and narrowly missed treading on a black scorpion within a day or so. I only knew about it because my partner, who was walking behind me, spotted it.

Blasé, hah yes I have been accused of this before...

2011-05-16T20:07:39.755+01:00

Blasé, hah yes I have been accused of this before, but I honestly believe the risk is so small as to be not worth worrying about. I never carry anti venom, but then I never carry any emergency medical supplies in the off chance that something randomly unpleasant happens. I even travel without insurance! Also none of my Turkish friends or family feel the need to keep anti venom in the house, even the ones that claim to have a snake the width of my wife's thigh living at the bottom of their garden. I have seen a couple more snakes since I wrote that post including a rather large black one but none of them bit me yet, probably they were scared off by the large stick I carry to scare of the restaurant touts!
I agree with you whole heartedly about the dogs, the street dog are normally fairly harmless but some of the village dogs are trained to attack strangers, in our village we can't walk around when the shepherds are returning from or leaving for the fields without carrying some kind of precaution (either a shotgun, large stick or a couple of sizeable rocks) the local Kangal dogs have large spiked collars and look like hounds from hell and have previously attacked other villagers! The dogs for those who don't know are to protect us and the livestock from the wolves and in some places bears!

You are just a bit blase. We have a villa in turke...

2011-05-16T18:16:09.669+01:00

You are just a bit blase.
We have a villa in turkey and spend about 6 months each year. I do a lot of walking running and camping/bivying.I have seen numerous snakes especially when running as I can come up on them suddenly.Several have been caught by our gardener in the garden/Also we have had a number of scorpions indoors.
Admittedly snakes will always get out of the way if they can, but sensible precautions are necessary rather than just ignore the " scaremongering" When walking through vegetation it is wise to proceed slowly and noisily.Also carry an "antivenon" (available from Boots), to withdraw any sting or bite.. Know the local emergency numbers. Turkey is well provided with local health centres which have a stock of serum for all the snakes, but it helps if you can identify which one bit you!
Snake and scorpion bites are rare but they do happen. They are rarely fatal but again they do happen,so take sensible precautions.
PS I find the dogs far more scary and threatening,so be prepared for them as well