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The British Isles has three native snakes.
All British snakes are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 from being killed,
injured or sold.
The Grass Snake
Britain's largest snake, reaching 70-120 cm in length (can grow to 200 cm in warmer areas). They can be found throughout Southern Britain and prefer damp habitats, often close to water, where they feed on frogs, toads and newts. Grass snakes are excellent swimmers.
Grass snakes are non-venomous, grey/green in colour (sometimes with black spots) and a yellow/cream/orange band around the neck. A black line runs from the eye to the mouth and the underside is usually white or pale yellow with a chequered effect. They are active during the day and bask in the sun to warm up. They hibernate from October to April and have been found sleeping in compost heaps. When threatened, they emit a foul-smelling liquid and may roll onto their back and play dead for up to 15 minutes.
In recent years grass snakes have suffered a national decline as a result of changing land use and deliberate persecution.
The Adder (or Common Viper)
Britain's only venomous snake. They are widespread throughout mainland Britain and are able to survive extremely harsh conditions. They are the most frequently seen British snake and are becoming increasingly common in open woodland, hedgerows, moorland, sand dunes, riverbanks, bogs, heathland and even mountains. They are active during the day and bask on rocks until their body temperature is high enough to hunt for mice and lizards.
Most adders have distinctive dark zig-zag markings down the length of their back, and an inverted 'V' shape on the neck. They are generally white/pale grey/pale brown but some adders are entirely black causing them to be mistaken for other species.
Adders very rarely attack. They use their exceptional camouflage to hide and retreat into the undergrowth when they feel approaching vibrations. The threat they pose has been greatly reduced due to modern snakebite knowledge and easy access to medical care. Adder venom is quite strong but, as very little is injected during a bite, only those susceptible to anaphylactic shock are considered to be at major risk. Nobody in Britain has died from adder bite for over 20 years, however, if bitten medical advise should be sought immediately. Adders should be treated with respect and left alone.
The Smooth Snake
Britain's rarest snake, which is non-venomous and normally only inhabits Southern England.
Its appearance is similar to an adder, but without the distinct solid zig-zag pattern on its back. This species is under threat and has declined rapidly due to the loss of lowland heathland in Southern England.
Slow worms
These are often confused with snakes, but are a type of legless lizard.
They are fairly common throughout Britain and can be up to 30 cm long with a cylindrical body and a bullet shaped head. Their scales are very small giving the appearance of a metallic sheen to their brown, gold or beige colour.
For further information about snakes see |Natural Englands information leaflet.
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| |Snakes (A - Z ) |