I am thinking of taking one of your MDS courses next year and I wanted to know if there are snakes and other dangerous animals?

We are fully aware that the question of local wildlife intrigues and sometimes worries future participants. It seems essential to remind you of the facts and the measures we implement to ensure your safety.

The desert is a natural environment that is home to a varied fauna, including some species of snakes and scorpions. These animals are primarily nocturnal; they seek the coolness of the nights and avoid extreme temperatures during the day. The stages of the MDS take place during the day, and the nocturnal activity of competitors is limited, which significantly reduces the risk of interactions.

Aware of these specifics, we impose a set of rules and mandatory equipment. Each runner must, for example, carry an anti-venom pump (aspivenin), which allows for the suction of venom in case of a bite or sting. Our medical teams, present at each stage, are trained in desert-specific first aid and intervene immediately if needed.

During the setup of the bivouacs, our staff systematically inspects and cleans the locations to remove any unwanted presence. We advise participants to check their shoes and sleeping bags in the morning, a simple and effective precaution in this environment.

While a few scorpions or snakes have been observed over the editions, incidents remain exceptional, and to date, no serious envenomations have been reported during the race. We remain vigilant and update our protocols based on feedback.

The Marathon des Sables is above all an extraordinary sporting and human challenge. The heat, distance, and required autonomy constitute the real difficulties. The local wildlife, for its part, is an integral part of this environment, but it does not pose a major danger when safety instructions are followed. We therefore invite you to prepare for your adventure calmly, focusing on your training and trusting the safety measures in place.