Snakes Found in Great Britain
There are only three species — adder, grass snake, and smooth snake
There are three species of snake native to Great Britain: the adder, the grass snake, and the smooth snake. The slowworm is often mistaken for a snake but is a legless lizard.
Adder (Vipera berus)
This is the only venomous snake found in Great Britain (it is absent from the whole of Ireland). The venom is used for catching its prey, mostly mice and voles, but it is not powerful enough to do much harm to humans. Adders are, in any case, very timid and are likely to move away from people rather than towards them.
Adders (also known as vipers) are usually grey or brown with a characteristic zigzag pattern on the back and a V-shape on the back of the head. Males grow to about 60 centimeters (24 inches) long, and females can be longer.
They inhabit heaths, moors, and open hillsides and are sometimes found in sand dunes. Shed skins are a sign that adders are likely to be around. They often bask in groups in early spring; they prefer gentle warmth to the full heat of the midday sun.
Male adders emerge from hibernation in February or March, with females appearing a little later. The young are born fully formed (i.e., not hatched from eggs) in late…
