BUCHAREST HERALD | Not many know that a unique species of snakes hides in the “Hill of God” natural reservation located 35 kilometers from Iasi, in the Valley of David protected area, in the Uricani area. We are talking about the steppe viper. The vipers are now in their period of reproduction, bzi.ro writes.
Every year in early March the vipers come out of hibernation and start their reproductive period. The males come out first, followed by the females, looking for crickets, grasshoppers, lizards and locusts to feed on. The ones that manage to see them can have a once in a lifetime experience. This happened to several students from the Biology and Geography Faculties in Iasi, who witnessed an unusual event.
Standing less than a meter away from these reptiles, they were able to see how several steppe vipers captured by specialists were released back into the reservation. One by one they brought the vipers back to the places where they were found in order to reproduce. “Vipers usually come out of hibernation in March, but given the longer winter this year they came out in early April. The places where we find them are higher areas, in the upper part of the hill.
The vast majority of the vipers are on that side, to the left, and they can be found where you sit too. The habitats are in these areas because snow does not form layers here and the areas are not left flooded in the spring. The vipers shed their skin and the reproduction period starts. They are very shy and their venom is very precious for them, that is why they do not waste it and they are generally frightened by man,” Alexandru Strugariu, enrolled in the Biology Faculty’s Ph.D. program, stated.
