ARC - Sliding Scales - Snake snippets

Sliding Scales

Snake Snippets

What snakes do we have in the UK?

We have three native snake species. These are:-
- The Adder
- The Grass Snake
- The Smooth Snake
The Slowworm is often mistaken for a snake but is actually a legless lizard.
We also have one alien snake species, the Aesculapian Snake, which has become naturalised in two locations
Occasionally other alien species are seen which have escaped from captivity. These are normally Corn Snakes, a harmless American species which is often very colourful

Are they protected?

All of our native snakes (and the Slowworm) are protected by law and it is illegal to deliberately kill, injure or sell any of them
In the case of the Smooth Snake it is also illegal to disturb them or to damage or destroy their habitat

What are snakes?

Snakes are reptiles that are very closely related to lizards but NEVER have legs
They are usually very long and relatively slim compared to lizards
They have no externally visible ear
They are unable to close their eyes (in fact, the eyelid is fused shut but is transparent)
Like all reptiles they are "cold-blooded", a misleading term as they actually regulate their body temperature by the use of their environment

Are snakes dangerous?

Only the Adder is venomous. The other species are harmless
Our snakes do not attack people. Even the Adder will only bite if disturbed or antagonised
Only about 10 people have died of adder bite in the last 100 years (typically more people die of any one of dog attacks, bee and wasp stings in a single year). But an Adder bite still hurts!

What good are snakes?

Snakes are predators and form part of nature's controls to prevent habitat being overrun by a single species
Grass Snakes control amphibian populations, Smooth Snakes control lizard (and other small snake) populations and Adders control small rodent populations (The Slowworn, although not a snake, controls garden pests such as small slugs)
They all bring beauty into our lives

How do snakes breed?

The Adder and the Smooth Snakes both produce live young in late summer. (as does the Slowworm)
The Grass Snake lays eggs in early summer which are incubated typically in rotting vegetable matter such as compost and sawdust heaps. The young hatch in late summer. (The Aesculapian Snake uses the same technique)
Our snakes evidence no parental care
Newly born or hatched snakes are perfect miniatures of the adults, usually looking like very small females.
They are self-sufficient from birth or hatching

You can find out more about each individual species by following the Resources.Reptile Species link in our menu