For 2024, our calendar features watercolour illustrations of UK wildlife by Alexia Claire. To go alongside this, we'd like to tell you more about the plants and animals we chose to feature each month. For September 2024, our species of the month is the Adder (Vipera berus).
How to identify an Adder
Identifying an Adder from the UK's other snakes is very straightforward once you know what to look for. Adders have a zigzag pattern running down their backs, which can be black on a grey, brown, or reddish background. Males generally have a grey or silver colour with a sharp zigzag, while females often exhibit a more muted brown or reddish-brown tone with a less pronounced zigzag. Look for the characteristic dark "V" or "X" shape on the head, which is a key identifying feature.
In terms of size, adders are relatively small, usually measuring between 60 to 80 cm in length. Their body is thickset compared to their length, and they have a triangular head that is distinct from their neck. If you're confident enough to get close enough, you'll see they also have vertical slit-like pupils.
Where are Adders found?
Adders in the UK are typically found in heathlands, woodland edges, rough grasslands, meadows, moorlands, and sometimes coastal dunes. They prefer habitats that offer a mix of sunlight and cover, such as sandy soils with low vegetation, clearings in woodlands, and areas with dense heather or gorse. These environments provide the warmth and shelter adders need, as well as ample hunting grounds. While adders are widespread across the UK, they are particularly common in southern England, Wales, and Scotland, though they are absent from Ireland.
What do Adders eat?
Adders primarily feed on small mammals, such as voles, mice, and shrews, which make up the bulk of their diet. They also eat lizards, frogs, and occasionally birds, particularly chicks or small ground-nesting species. Young adders often feed on insects or small amphibians before they start hunting larger prey.
Adders are ambush predators, relying on their camouflage to remain hidden while they wait for prey to come within striking distance. Once they strike, they inject venom to immobilise their prey before swallowing it whole.
How can we help protect them?
The primary threats to adders are habitat loss and, as the UK's only venomous snake, also face persecution. They are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), but wildlife charities are reporting dramatic declines in localised areas. The focus to support adders is to preserve and restore their habitat, and education.
You can get involved with or support charities like Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, which focus on preserving and restoring the natural habitats where adders live. This might involve volunteering for habitat restoration projects, such as heathland management. If you have a garden or outdoor space, create a wildlife-friendly environment that supports adders and other reptiles by leaving areas of long grass, providing natural shelter like logs and stones, and avoiding the use of pesticides.
Alternatively, contact your local Amphibian and Reptile group to get involved with their projects or surveys, such as Make the Adder Count.
You can also make an effort to educate others about the importance of adders and how to coexist with them safely. By reducing fear and misinformation, you can help prevent unnecessary harm to adders.
