Are there poisonous snakes in england

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.

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Adder Scientific name: Vipera berus. Our only venomous snake, the shy adder can be spotted basking in the sunshine in woodland glades and on heathlands. Species information Category Reptiles. Statistics Length: cm Weight: g Average lifespan: up to 15 years. 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? Jump directly to the content. Sign in. All Football. Natalie Keegan. But what do they look like and can their venom kill you?