There are three native snake species within the UK together with one one venomous snake. You’re almost certainly to see them within the wild, or generally in your backyard, throughout the heat climate.
The three species are:
- Adder (Vipera berus) – widespread however declining throughout the UK and the solely venomous species
- Grass snake (Natrix helvetica) – widespread in England and Wales, together with gardens
- Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) – localised to southern English heaths
How to establish the UK snake species
Adder
The adder has a particular zigzag sample down their again, pink eyes and a vertical pupil. Adders can develop to round 70cm.
Grass snake
Grass snakes are often an olive inexperienced color, with giant eyes and spherical pupils and could be over a meter lengthy. They have a definite collar behind their heads and are additionally the one native snake species to put eggs.
Grass snakes are the snakes you will see in your backyard, as they generally like to make use of compost heaps to put their eggs. A grass snake may have smooth leathery eggs.
Smooth snake
The clean snake is the least widespread, localised to the south of England and located in heath habitats.
They’re the smallest species, rising to solely round 55cm in size. They’re sometimes a greyish brown in color, have a darkish stripe down the aspect of their face, a heart-shaped sample on their head and a sample of spots and bars alongside their again.
How to establish a snake from their shed pores and skin
The shedded pores and skin of a snake is called a ‘slough’. If you discover snakeskin, you might be able to work out which species of snake they’re by trying fastidiously on the scale patterns.
Slow-worms could be mistaken for snakes
Slow-worms (Anguis fragilis) are literally legless lizards and never snakes. They can attain round 45cm and in contrast to snakes, they’ve eyelids. They’re sometimes shades of gray or brown, and a few males have blue spots.
Found a snake in your backyard
If you see a local British snake in your backyard or the wild, please go away them undisturbed. You solely have to contact us if the snake is injured or wounded.
Escaped pet snake
If you discover a non-native species of snake, please hold your distance and get in touch with us.
Find out extra about snakes and Living with Reptiles in our factsheet.
