Where can you find adders in the uk

Did you know? The adder is the UK's only venomous snake, but its poison is generally of little danger to humans: an adder bite can be painful and cause a inflammation, but is really only dangerous to the very young, ill or old.

If bitten, medical attention should be sought immediately, however. Adders are secretive animals and prefer to slither off into the undergrowth rather than confront and bite humans and domestic animals; most attacks happen when they are trodden on or picked up.

Instead, they use their venom to immobilise and kill their prey of small mammals, nestlings and lizards. Identify UK snakes Grass snake or adder?

Species Grass snake The grass snake is our longest snake, but don't worry if you find one in the compost heap - it's harmless! Reptiles The UK's 6 native species of reptile are often overlooked when thinking about British wildlife. Like all reptiles, adders are fans of warm, dry weather where they can bask in the heat of the sun before hunting for prey. Cool, damp, grey weather tends not to suit them as well and they may well hide away out of view or — in the winter months — even aestivate to conserve vital energy.

Equally so, the warmer a snake gets the more active it becomes — and as it becomes more active so it also becomes faster moving and so harder to spot.

The ideal situation to see adders is therefore early on in the morning of a warm, sunny day in summer. Natalie Keegan. But what do they look like and can their venom kill you? Here's all you need to know Severe pain at the location of the bite Swelling, redness and bruising at the location of the bite, spreading up the bitten limb Feeling sick nausea followed by vomiting Diarrhoea Itchy lumps on the skin hives or nettle rash Swelling of the lips, tongue, gums and throat Breathing difficulties with wheezing, similar to asthma Mental confusion, dizziness or fainting An irregular heartbeat Source: NHS.

Extensive swelling, blistering and eventually tissue death gangrene in the area of the bite Paralysis — starting with drooping of the upper eyelids and progressing down the body to produce an inability to swallow, breathe or move Shock and loss of consciousness Kidney failure with little or no urine being passed Massive blood loss — as a result of bleeding from the mouth, nose and wounds, vomiting blood, and passing blood in urine or stools death Source: NHS.

Here's how to get rid of them. Once fully grown, adders usually measure between 60 and 80cm in length. Young are almost perfect replicas of adults and measure around 17cm in length at birth. Adders feed primarily on small mammals, such as voles and mice, and lizards. They will also eat frogs, newts and small birds and their chicks.

They are active during the day. Unlike grass snakes which constrict their prey, adders use their venomous bite to subdue their meals. Unlike some snakes, adders do not lay eggs and instead give birth to up to 20 live young in late summer. The species has been known to live for more than ten years, although it can sometimes fall victim to other predators, such as birds of prey, crows and even pheasants, especially when young.

Adders hibernate through the coldest part of the year. From around October to March they sleep in sheltered, dry spots such as old rodent burrows or within fallen trees.

Adders are found across Britain but are absent from Ireland. They are associated with open habitats such as heathland, moorland and woodland edges. The adder is the most northerly-occurring snake species in the world and has been recorded within the Arctic Circle.