Make the Adder Count – A National Survey
The adder (Vipera berus) may be Britain’s only poisonous snake, but this beautiful and shy creature and will make every effort to keep out of your way. The adder’s preferred habitats are open, immature woodland or woodland edges where there are warm, sunny spots, and cover to take refuge if disturbed.
There is some concern about a decline in numbers of British amphibians and reptiles and The National Amphibian and Reptile Survey (NARRS) aims to gather evidence of national distribution through various nationwide surveys. This includes one in conjunction with The Herpetological Trust to record sightings of adders. It’s a bit cold for them now (in hibernation), but if you spot one you can contribute to the survey online at www.adder.org.uk/
The adders’s diamond-patterned back is quite distinctive, but they are sometimes confused with smooth snakes. Adders are chunkier and about 60cm long. Females have a brownish background to their markings, males are greyish/silvery. See pictures of adders, smooth snakes and other snakes or snake-like animals, eg slowworm, for comparison at www.adder.org.uk and click on “About Adders”.
Amazingly for such a well-known creature, their lifespan is not known, but they are thought to be long-lived – possibly up to 20 years – and return to the same hibernation spot each year. Adders are also remarkable because they do not lay eggs but give birth to fully-formed, tiny adders. Adders will eat small rodents, lizards, frogs and newts, and occasionally nestlings of ground birds. They are prey to predators such as buzzards, but can also be eaten by rats and other rodents while in their hibernating state. Sightings are most common in the spring when the weather warms up again. Adders have “Protected Species” status in law, so you may look but leave well alone.
If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten - occasionally people step on them accidentally – you should seek immediate treatment. If treated promptly, the bites are not considered serious, although painful. (There has been no death from an adder bite in 20 years.) The same applies to dogs, but take them to a local vet who will have experience in the proper treatment.
- See also NARRS online surveys for slowworms www.narrs.org.uk/slowwormcompost.htm and garden amphibians http://www.narrs.org.uk/gasabout.html
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Discussion
saw a adder crossing the hawkshead road, close to estwaite water, Cumbria. About 50 cm long, dark in colour, with the diamond pattern along back. lovely late summers day, strong sunshine, dry day for September 10th, 2013.
Spotted a distinctly patterned baby yellow/black snake in Bracknell Forest (Ceasar’s Camp, The Lookout) on 23 April 2011. Unseasonally hot summer weather for the time of year.
The decline in amphibians is not restricted to the UK, recent reports suggest that nearly a third of amphibian species are threatened, and some 122 species have become extinct since 1980 –
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/jul/07/endangeredspecies.biodiversity )
It has been suggested that a fungal disease – chytridiomycosis (http://www.froglife.org/Diseasechytrid.htm ) may be responsible in some cases.
However, a report earlier this year has suggested that a decline in leaf litter / leaves on forest floors (in some areas) may be critical. Leaf litter offers not only food but also shelter for many organisms –
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6564329.stm
have we any idea as to why the numbers of reptiles and amphibians are declining?
21 June 2014 Rudry Mountain, Caerphilly – hot sunny afternoon walking along an overgrown path down the mountain. Spotted a hole apx 1 1/2 inch wide in middle of path and the heard rustling in undergrowth to side and spotted female (brown and dark zigzag)slithering away.
Julia Baker
2 July, 2014