reptiles

What our animals are doing this month

June 1, 2025 by Admin

Written by Andrew Smart, Head of Science & Research

The Secret Life of the Grass Snake: Spring into Summer

As the chill of winter fades and the days begin to warm, one of Britain’s most fascinating reptiles stirs from its slumber. The grass snake, our largest native snake species, typically emerges from hibernation around March or April, ready to begin a new season of activity.

By late spring, these snakes have left their hibernation sites and are actively basking in the sun, feeding, and preparing to breed, usually during April and May. If you’re lucky, you might spot a tell-tale sign of their presence: a circular patch of flattened grass where a snake has coiled itself to soak up the warmth.

Grass snakes are especially drawn to ponds, where they hunt amphibians, small fish, and even moorhen chicks.

Once they’ve gathered enough heat, grass snakes begin to explore, often moving along hedgerows and ditches for cover. They’re especially drawn to ponds, where they hunt amphibians, small fish, and even moorhen chicks. Their movement is stealthy, and they make the most of natural features to remain hidden from predators and prey alike.

Interestingly, grass snakes don’t all roam the same distances. Some may stick to small areas of just half a hectare, while others have been recorded covering territories as large as 33 hectares. Females tend to be larger than males and take on the important task of egg-laying in early summer.

Between June and July, female grass snakes lay clutches of 10 to 40 eggs, often choosing warm, damp spots such as rotting vegetation piles or garden compost heaps, especially those rich in grass clippings. These warm environments act as natural incubators. By late summer, the eggs hatch, and tiny juvenile snakes begin their journey into the wild.

So next time you’re near a sunny hedgerow or a quiet pond, keep an eye out, you might just catch a glimpse of this remarkable, secretive reptile going about its seasonal rituals.

Remember to record your amphibian and reptile sightings on our free Dragon Finder App.

Earth Day 2025 – Our Power, Our Planet

April 1, 2025 by Admin

Written by Emma Byrne, Transforming Lives Trainee

This April 22nd, millions will take action for Earth Day 2025, rallying behind the theme ‘Our Power, Our Planet’. This year’s focus highlights the need for renewable energy and urgent climate action—a cause that directly impacts amphibians and reptiles in the UK.

Climate change is rapidly altering habitats, pushing many species to the brink. Rising temperatures, habitat loss, and pollution are putting amphibians and reptiles at risk, but you can help!

How Climate Change Affects UK Amphibians & Reptiles

Warmer winters and early spawning risk – mild winters can trigger early spawning behaviour, making it vulnerable to late frosts.

Disappearing wetlands – amphibians rely on ponds and marshes, which are shrinking due to development and pollution.

Heat stress in reptiles – species like adders and slow worms struggle with extreme weather fluctuations.

What You Can Do This Earth Day

Create a wildlife-friendly garden – even a small pond or log pile can support amphibians and reptiles. Find our tips for creating a wildlife-friendly space here.
Reduce your carbon footprint – use less energy, cut plastic waste, and advocate for climate action.
Join a conservation project – volunteer with Froglife to help protect habitats and species. You can find out more about our volunteering opportunities here.
Speak up – share how climate change affects UK wildlife and encourage action in your community.

Earth Day is about using OUR power to protect OUR planet. Whether it’s a small lifestyle change or direct conservation action, every effort helps to safeguard nature’s most vulnerable species. How will YOU take action?

Photo Source – RELX (2025) Earth Day 2025. Available at: https://sdgresources.relx.com/events/earth-day-2025 (Accessed: 13 March 2025).

UK Reptile ID

April 1, 2025 by Admin

Written by Paul Arestides, Transforming Lives Trainee

The UK is home to six native species of reptile – three snakes (adder, grass snake and smooth snake) and three lizards (common lizard/ viviparous lizard, sand lizard and slow worm).

In early spring, snakes and lizards will start to emerge from brumation – if you are lucky you may see one or more in your garden or when out walking in the countryside.

All three species of snake in the UK reproduce by laying eggs. The adder and smooth snake incubate eggs internally and then ‘give birth’ to live young. The grass snake lays eggs externally in rotting vegetation, for example, compost heaps.

Take a look below for some more fascinating facts about the UK’s native reptiles.

Grass snake (Natrix helvetica)

Size: 90-150cm in length (females tend to be the longest)

Colour: Usually greenish in colour, with a yellow and black collar, pale belly and dark markings down the sides.

Habitat: Favours wetland habitats but can also be found in grassland and gardens, especially those with a pond!

Interesting fact: The grass snake is the longest snake found in the UK.

Adder (Vipera berus)

Size: 60-80cm in length. Very stocky.

Colour: Grey (males)/ brown (females) with a dark and very distinctive zig-zag pattern down its back. Red eyes.

Habitat: Prefers woodland, heathland and moorland but may also be found in grassland or on the coast.

Interesting fact: The adder is the only venomous snake in the UK. However, bites are exceptionally rare as adders are reclusive and would prefer to retreat than confront a human. The last recorded death from an adder bite in the UK was in 1975.

Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)

Size: 50-70cm in length.

Colour: Usually dark grey or brown in colour. Similar to an adder but with a more slender body and without the zig-zag pattern along its back.

Habitat: Very rare. Mainly found on a few sandy heaths in Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey, although a couple of reintroduced populations exist in West Sussex and Devon.

Interesting fact: The smooth snake is a constrictor, coiling around its prey to subdue it and crush it to death

Most lizards have four legs and run with a side-to-side motion. However, some, such as the slow worm, are legless. Lizards are mainly carnivorous and often employ a ‘sit-and-wait’ approach to catching prey. In the UK, lizards feed primarily on insects, molluscs and spiders.

Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)

Size: Up to 20cm.

Colour: Female sand lizards are a sandy-brown colour, with rows of dark blotches along the back. Males have green flanks that are at their brightest during the breeding season, making them easy to spot.

Habitat: The sand lizard is very rare and can only be found on a few sandy heaths in Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey with a few reintroduced populations in the south east, south west and Wales.

Interesting fact: Sand lizards dig burrows for overnight refuge and hibernation.

Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)

Size: 40-50cm.

Colour: Smooth, golden-grey skin. The males are paler in colour and occasionally have blue spots. The females tend to be larger with dark sides and some have a dark line down their back.

Habitat: Slow worms live in most of Great Britain apart from Northern Ireland and are also present on most of the islands in Scotland and the Channel Isles.

Interesting fact: Although similar in appearance to a snake, the slow worm has eyelids (which snakes do not) and can drop its tail when threatened by a predator.

Viviparous/ common lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

Size: 10-15cm in length.

Colour: Variable, but most commonly a brownish-grey, with rows of darker spots or stripes down the back and sides. Males have bright yellow or orange undersides with spots, while females have paler, plain bellies.

Habitat: Heathland, moorland and grassland.

Interesting fact: If threatened by a predator, the common lizard will shed its tail which continues to move – the lizard uses this distraction to make its escape. Although able to regrow its tail, the new one is usually shorter than the original.

Help us by becoming a citizen scientist! Reptiles are widely under-reported and we want your records to see how well reptiles are faring in the UK. Download our free Dragon Finder App to get started.

What our animals are doing this month…

March 1, 2025 by Admin

Written by Emma Byrne, Transforming Lives Trainee

March is an important month for the UK’s amphibian and reptile species. The general temperature is gradually warming, and as such, many of these species are coming out of hibernation ready to breed, feed, and explore their habitats.

Amphibians:

Frogs, toads, and newts are on the move!

Common frogs and toads migrate in large numbers towards their breeding ponds, with many crossing roads in the process making projects such as Toads on Roads necessary. Male frogs can be heard croaking to attract mates, whilst spawn begins to appear in ponds. Smooth and great crested newts are also heading to the water where they perform spectacular courtship displays!

Reptiles:

The only venomous British snake, the adder, emerges from hibernation as days lengthen. Males have been observed lying out in the sun, a behaviour that allows them to build up energy before shedding skin prior to breeding season. Other reptiles, such as grass snakes and slow worms, also awaken but bide their time waiting for even warmer weather to descend.

March is the perfect month to get outside and begin looking for amphibians and reptiles in the wild! If you happen to see any, please register your sighting on our free Froglife Dragon Finder App.

What our animals are doing this month

February 1, 2025 by Admin

Written by Charles Bonnett, Transforming Lives Trainee

It’s February and we’re settling into the New Year. For our animals, February can represent a period of transition, as the first signs of spring start to stir them from their dormancy.

For some amphibians, February marks the beginning of their habitual migration to their breeding ponds. Male common frogs typically arrive first, ready to attract females. In warmer, southernly regions of the country, mating may have already occurred by late February and frogspawn may be present. Likewise, during warm, wet evenings, common toads will begin their migration to their ancestral breeding ponds; these epic journeys can sometimes span kilometres. Some of our three native newt species, smooth, palmate, and great crested newts, will similarly begin to rouse from their dormancy, though will likely remain more inconspicuous than their frog and toad counterparts.

In comparison to amphibians, our reptiles are more temperature-sensitive, and so will mostly maintain their dormant state throughout the cold February days in order conserve their energy. Though, this does not mean that reptiles will be completely inactive during this period; a warm spell may stir adders and common lizards from their inactivity, after which they may be seen basking on south-facing slopes to regulate their body temperature in preparation for spring.

Generally, there is a degree of variation in when a member of a species may exit brumation, in part influenced by regional variation in weather, where earlier activity may be observed in more southerly regions. A further notable impact on this transition is our ever-changing climate. Our winters are becoming milder and less predictable, leading to our amphibians and reptiles exiting their dormant state prematurely. This early emergence can be dangerous, as it can leave the animals exposed to unpredictable weather, such as cold snaps. Likewise, it can cause the expenditure of energy during colder periods which may be difficult to recoup as sources of food will be rarer.

Overall, then, February can be a transitionary period from dormancy to activity for our amphibians and reptiles, and will likely continue to be with greater frequency due to our changing climate.

Remember to report any sightings of our species (including eggs and young) on our free Dragon Finder app.

Impact of basking banks on UK reptiles

December 17, 2024 by Admin

A new study by The University of Reading and Froglife highlights the impact of constructing Basking Banks on four UK reptile species and the implications for reserve management.

Researchers studying reptiles as part of a long-term monitoring programme found that in the 12 months after constructing basking banks only viviparous lizards were observed near them. However, in subsequent years, barred grass snakes increased near the banks and slow worms were observed for the first time. In nearby areas (approx. 100m away) with no basking bank construction, European adder observations increased and barred grass snake observations decreased. The basking banks created in this study were north-south facing, maximising their potential for thermoregulation, and were also full of holes and crevices that may be attractive to reptiles for predator avoidance.

_{In subsequent years of the basking banks being constructed, barred grass snakes increased near the banks and slow worms were observed for the first time.}

“This is an interesting finding because it suggests the simple practical action of building basking banks can enhance local reptile diversity. We think reptiles probably used the banks even more extensively than was recorded, as they are good places to hide from researchers.” Dr Brian Pickles, University of Reading.

The study was conducted as a part of a long-term partnership between Froglife and The University of Reading and contributes towards Froglife’s commitment to testing one habitat management intervention per year. Froglife is an ambassador for The University of Cambridge’s “Conservation Evidence” project and this research will add to the available evidence on actions to support reptile conservation in the UK, which is currently very limited.

“It’s essential that we take action to protect reptiles in the UK; we hope that this study will inspire members of the public to get involved in reptile monitoring schemes, and also inspire site managers to set up similar surveys and manage habitats for the benefit of reptiles as well as other species.” Jenny Tse-Leon, Head of Conservation and Impact at Froglife.

The UK has six native reptile species, and all are legally protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006). Despite this, reptiles are the least recorded vertebrate taxon making population trends difficult to obtain for most reptile species, even the most common ones. Globally, the need for improved conservation action to tackle reptile declines is gaining wider recognition.

In Feb 2019 basking banks were created by Froglife with the goal of expanding the favourable habitat for the European adder and hopefully increasing their local population. Each bank replaced a patch of grass with a raised area of rock, brick, and bare earth with a roughly flat rectangular centre (approx. 1 x 2 m) and the longest sides facing north/south at a height of ~50 cm with ~45^o downward slope. Coupled with a long-term reptile monitoring programme at the site, this enabled a 5-year before-after control-intervention study of the impact of basking bank creation on habitat use by four co-occurring UK reptile species: European adder (Vipera berus), barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica), slow worm (Anguis fragilis), and viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara).

_{This small-scale study shows the utility and importance of performing reptile monitoring before as well as after management interventions.}

Interestingly, while the intervention was targeted at European adders, the researchers found that adder numbers increased in the wider area rather than directly around the basking banks. The banks themselves became important for barred grass snakes on the site. This small-scale study shows the utility and importance of performing reptile monitoring before as well as after management interventions, and the authors suggest that similar studies would benefit from directly monitoring reptile use inside the basking banks where possible. Adding basking banks appears to be a low-cost intervention with benefits for local reptile populations that can be carried out with small teams of volunteers, so it could be a useful addition to charities and site managers operating with small budgets.

You can read the full paper here.