Several recent cases have come to the attention of police after people posted photos of dead vipers on social media.Killing a protected viper can have legal consequences, with potential fines of 70 euros. Image: Vesa Marttinen / YleYle News12:16Since the common viper became a protected species in June 2023, police have investigated seven cases involving the killing of the venomous snakes, according to Chief Superintendent Konsta Arvelin of the National Police Board.One of the best-known cases involved a man from Turku who killed a viper with a spade before posting a photo of the dead snake on Facebook with the caption: "This was the first snake to come into the yard. That's the end result."Police later contacted the man, and told him that he had violated the Nature Conservation Act.Under the legislation, each protected species has a compensation value. A viper, also known as an adder, is valued at 70 euros, which serves as a reference when determining compensation payable to the state.A viper that enters a garden may be killed if it poses a danger and relocation is not possible. Image: Michal Fuglevi / All Over PressAccording to preliminary investigation documents seen by Yle, the Turku man said he killed the snake because he feared it posed a danger to nearby children and the family's cat. He challenged the decision, and the case was ultimately closed due to insufficient evidence.Police say most cases have not progressed to prosecution because the offender could not be identified or there was insufficient evidence.In another case, a woman in her 60s in Eura received a police warning after admitting in a Facebook post that she had killed a viper while walking her dog. Police concluded she had committed a nature conservation offence but considered it too minor to refer to prosecutors.Under Finland's Nature Conservation Act, vipers found in gardens or yards may be captured and relocated if necessary. Killing one is only permitted if it poses an immediate danger and no other option is available.