According to legend, St Patrick drove all the serpents into the sea after they attacked him during a day fast on top of a hill. Scientists say snakes could not reach Ireland as it has been cut off from the rest of Europe since the last ice age. Only a handful of other countries have no snakes, including Iceland, Greenland and New Zealand, as well as the frozen continent Antarctica.
Jump directly to the content. Sign in. All Football. Here's all you need to know about the slithering creatures What snakes are there living wild in Britain? Are they venomous? There are three native species of snake found in Great Britain, and three species of lizard. Snakes and lizards are protected species and it is illegal to disturb them and their nests. Discover why our native reptiles seem more volatile when temperatures warm up.
There are very few dangerous animals living in and around Britain. Although the sight of a snake might be terrifying to some, species found in the wild are rarely cause for concern. Patrick Campbell , Senior Curator of Reptiles, explains why there is little reason to be scared of the snakes slithering through the countryside this summer.
There are three species of snake native to Britain plus a fourth, non-native species. Three of these are completely harmless - only the adder Vipera berus , a native reptile, is venomous. It's a defence mechanism - they're not going to come out and attack humans just for the sake of it.
Some people may be bitten on the hand, but this is easily avoided by not picking up live snakes. It will hurt and swell for a few days and you may have feelings of nausea and dizziness. Some who may be less fortunate may suffer an allergic reaction, but it generally isn't going to kill you. Fatalities from adder bites are exceptionally rare. The last in Britain occurred in , when a five-year-old was bitten on the ankle in Scotland.
Between and there was only one death caused by an adder bite across England and Wales. For those who see a snake in the wild in Britain, Patrick says, 'The best advice would be: don't aggravate it. It's safe to observe them respectfully from a distance, but just don't go picking them up and they will leave you alone.
An adder won't chase you - there are stories, perhaps fanciful, of black mambas in Africa pursuing people, but the adder is not like this. It is not an aggressive snake, but quite shy and reclusive.
Antivenom is rarely needed but should be considered in severe cases. Visit the NHS website for more native and exotic snakebite advice. British snakes are usually solitary, shy animals that prefer to flee than fight.
Adders are mainly found on heathlands, commons and woodland. More bites occur in the summer as British snakes hibernate through winter, when people are also less active and wearing heavier clothing and footwear. The body temperature of snakes is regulated externally by sunning or retreating to cool.
They need to be warm in order to be active. But if you find them, they'll often slither away rapidly and are likely to strike out only if provoked or picked up. Adders, also known as European vipers, have distinctive features that make them identifiable next to other British snake species. Adders have stocky bodies, reaching a maximum length of approximately one metre. They vary in colour: males are usually grey and females reddish, although there are some that are entirely black melanistic form.
They have a distinctive, darker zigzag pattern down the middle of their backs and a clear V or X marking on the top of the head. These snakes have a slit pupil similar to a cat's instead of a round one. They also have keeled scales - rather than being smooth, they have a raised ridge down their centre. Victims of a snakebite should seek immediate medical attention and try to remember a description of the snake seen to help medical professionals identify the species - but don't try and catch it.
Patrick says, 'Using a tourniquet to isolate the bite to some may feel sensible but in actual fact will probably only make matters worse. It will lead to the venom concentrating in one part of the body and could end up destroying the flesh in that area. Two other species of snake are native to Britain: the grass snake Natrix helvetica and the smooth snake Coronella austriaca. These are both non-venomous. Similar in appearance to the adder, the smooth snake can be distinguished by its more slender body, round pupil and less well-formed dark pattern on its back.
It is usually grey or dark brown in colour and around cm in length. The rare smooth snake can only be found at a few heathland sites in the UK. At first glance, the slow worm might be mistaken for a snake, but it's actually a legless lizard! The slow worm is much smaller than a snake, with smoother, golden-grey skin. The head is a similar width to the body and seems to flow seamlessly into it, whereas our snakes have a slightly broader head that looks more distinct from the body.
On closer inspection, slow worms also have eyelids and can be seen blinking snakes do not , and they can shed their tail if threatened. As a charity we rely on memberships. They help us look after over 2, nature reserves and protect the animals that call them home. Please consider becoming a member of your local Wildlife Trust today.
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