Slithering Wonders: A Guide to British Snakes and Their Conservation
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By Dr Steven J R Allain FLS, British Herpetological Society UK Conservation Officer and Trustee
Hopefully you’ve heard the most excellent news that 2025 is the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Zodiac. The snake symbolises wisdom, intuition, and elegance with those being born in the Year of the Snake believed to be insightful, charming, and mysterious. You may recognise that some of these qualities are shared with our scaled friends of which inspired the Zodiac. As many people are aware, snakes often evoke strong emotions, ranging from fear to fascination – depending on how connected with nature you are. In Britain, these slithering reptiles are not only a vital part of our ecosystem but also a fascinating subject for nature lovers and a personal passion of mine. Despite their importance, our snakes face a variety of threats, making their conservation more important than ever. There are also several challenges that we must overcome too in order to safeguard their populations for the future, caused in part due to their unjustified negative public image.
Britain is home to three native species of snake, of which most people can only name two. These are the adder (Vipera berus) and the grass snake (Natrix helvetica); but we also have a third rarer species, the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca). The adder is infamous for being Britain’s only venomous snake, but its bite is rarely dangerous to humans. The last recorded death by an adder was in 1975, and in the century before this when adders would have been far more numerous, only 14 people died. To put that into perspective, approximately five people are unfortunately killed in cow-related accidents each year. If you are envenomated by an adder, please seek immediate medical advice. Adders can be recognised by their distinctive zig-zag pattern along its back, they’re most commonly found in heathlands, moorlands, and open woodlands. These snakes are shy and prefer to avoid human interaction.
Next is the grass snake, a species close to my heart as it was the subject of my PhD and I spent three summers running around a private nature reserve in Norfolk like a headless chicken, collecting as much data as possible. Grass snakes are Britain’s largest snake, growing up to 150 cm in length and often mistaken for adders due to their size. If you’re not in the know about snakes, it is easy to conflate size with deadliness, but adders are typically 60-80 cm in length, so half of that of the grass snake at best. Meanwhile, grass snakes are non-venomous and relatively harmless, if you do startle one it is likely to feign death and produce a foul-smelling musk to really sell the act of sudden death. Someone should offer the snakes an Academy Award as some of them are amazing actors. Despite their name, they’re often found near water bodies like ponds and marshes, where they hunt amphibians and fish. They have an olive-green body and yellow or white collar (when present) which make them easy to identify.
Finally, we come to the smooth snake which is the rarest of Britain’s reptiles. I am yet to see one in the wild, but I am hoping to change this during the Year of the Snake – how fitting! Smooth snakes are restricted to heathlands in southern England such as Dorset and Hampshire. They too are non-venomous and feed mainly on small reptiles like lizards. The smooth snake is elusive, making it harder to monitor than the other two species which are more widespread. Surprisingly, smooth snakes are even smaller than adders being 60-70 cm in length. Smooth snakes can be identified by their grey or brown body with dark spots or bars along dorsum and flanks. The head often has a dark top and the snakes also have a dark stripe through the eye, giving their best Alice Cooper impression.
Despite their ecological importance, British snakes face numerous threats at both the local and national level. The first is the biggest threat to biodiversity globally, habitat loss. It will be a surprise to no one that urban development and agricultural intensification over the latter half of the previous century led to declines in our wildlife populations, including snakes. These declines have continued as habitats become increasingly fragmented, with populations unable to move between them ensure an optimal level of genetic diversity. Snakes are often misunderstood and feared, leading to deliberate killing despite it being illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Myths and negative perceptions further exacerbate this issue and targeted education can help to promote a positive affinity for snakes, rather than a negative one. Changing weather patterns affect the hibernation and breeding cycles of snakes with climate change meaning we have more frequent warmer winters which can disrupt hibernation, while extreme weather events can destroy habitats. Finally, is the threat of disease, which is a topic we are still investigating. Due to a lack of long-term data to threats such as ophidiomycosis and other potential pathogens, it is best to take the precautionary approach and ensure all fieldwork is carried out in an appropriate and biosecure way.
It isn’t all doom and gloom though; I am here to provide a beacon of hope as well as an opportunity for you to contribute to the conservation of our legless friends. There are several initiatives in place to protect British snakes and their habitats, such as habitat restoration and the establishment of nature reserves in key areas by organisations such as the Wildlife Trusts and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC). There is a large body of volunteers as part of the Amphibian and Reptile Groups UK (ARG UK) working to restore other habitats such as heathlands and wetlands, which are vital habitats for other species, not just reptiles. There are also efforts within ARC and ARG UK to run awareness campaigns aimed to dispel myths about snakes and highlight their importance to ecosystems, to those that may not be as connected to nature as ourselves. Like myself, there are numerous people acting as boots on the ground to conduct surveys and research projects, helping to track snake populations and inform conservation strategies. Afterall, we need to make sure that our interventions are effective and working.
How can you help? If you want to be actively involved, why not join your amphibian and reptile group through ARG UK, which are usually broken down into county or regional groups. If it is something you can’t commit to then you can always provide a mix of vegetation, logs, and compost heaps in your garden to help make them more reptile friendly. If you are lucky enough to encounter a snake, observe it from a distance and avoid disturbing it. Make sure that you report all sightings and contribute to citizen science projects that help to inform local conservation efforts, such as iRecord or Record Pool. If you are unfortunate enough to find a dead snake, then please report your finding to Garden Wildlife Health, again assisting with our understanding of these animals in our countryside.
Snakes are an integral part of Britain’s natural heritage. By learning about these fascinating reptiles and taking steps to protect them, we can ensure they continue to thrive in our landscapes. Let’s move past fear and embrace an appreciation for these often-misunderstood creatures. After all, conservation is not just about protecting snakes—it’s about preserving the rich biodiversity that makes our world so extraordinary. The Chinese Zodiac recognises the majesty of these amazing animals, indicating that perhaps we should too.
Find out more about the work of the British Herpetological Society here.
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