Habitat management for reptiles

HABITAT MANAGEMENT ADVICE

Reptile Habitat Management:
further information

The need to control body temperature governs much of the day to day activity of reptiles.

Typically, reptiles aim to maintain body temperatures between 20 and 30'C. Habitats need to provide a structure that allows reptiles to bask or otherwise warm up using the sun's energy, but also to avoid extremes of heat and cold.

Avoid uniform habitat
Mowing or burning large areas of ground can create habitats that are too uniform and so may harm reptile populations. These approaches need to be timed to avoid direct harm to reptiles. Where there are small areas burnt or cut, the edges are often used by reptiles. Burning should always aim to avoid key reptiles areas. Survey work should aim to locate these areas and inform management decisions. For more information on when to carry out work take a look at the heathland management calendar. >>>

Reduce trees and scrub
Open habitat can be created by removal of trees and scrub; shading can be caused by trees both on a site or adjacent to it. Low levels of tree cover can benefit reptiles by providing a greater variety of ground temperatures; they also provide shelter from the wind and shade on very hot days. Tree roots can provide hibernation areas.

Species specific
Sandy traces on heaths or in dune habitats will provide egg-laying areas for sand lizards where this species occurs. Tracks created by mowing or by removing vegetation (e.g. with a bulldozer/rotovator) can also be valuable fire-breaks in grassland and heath habitats, but may cause increased access. For grass snakes, aquatic habitats (prey species include amphibians and fish) and egg-laying sites (e.g. compost/dung heaps) are important.

Reptile 'hot-spots'
Management should consider reptile 'hot-spots' - key features that provide ideal conditions, for example south-facing banks. Provided that these areas do not become isolated in large expanses of unsuitable habitat, the management of these 'hot-spots' (sometimes called 'foci') can be the most costs effective and reliable way of ensuring continued existence of reptiles on a site.