Snakes and Snakebite

There are only 3 indigenous snake species in the UK as well as a legless lizard (also called a slow worm) that might be mistaken for one. It is possible that you might also encounter an exotic species that has escaped, like the corn snake which is a popular pet snake in the UK.

Adder (Vipera berus)
Grass snake (Natrix helvetica)
Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)
Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)

All snakes in the UK are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: Schedule 5 and it is an offence to kill, injure or take a native snake. All species are currently in decline mainly due to habitat loss so don’t disturb them if you come across them. They are more likely to be afraid of you and slither off than attack you. Bites generally occur if they are stepped on or you try to handle them. So if you spot one and want to identify it, do so from a distance without attempting to catch, trap or handle it. If you have a camera handy then take a photo to aid identification.

From a fishing perspective you are most likely to encounter a grass snake (in England and Wales) which is fond of wetland habitats where it preys on amphibians, fish, small mammals and birds. They hibernate during winter and are most likely to be seen between April and October. The adder is most likely to be spotted basking in the sunshine in woodland glades and on heathlands. The smooth snake is quite rare and locally restricted. If you want to identify the snake you spotted later then the following Wildlife Trust page is quite useful.

Adder Vipera berus
(Credit: Christine Matthews, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Grass snake Natrix helvetica
(Credit: Evelyn Simak, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Slow worm Anguis fragilis
(Credit: Graeme Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus
(Credit: Glenn Bartolotti, CC BY-SA 4.0)

The adder is the only indigenous snake that is venomous, however, it uses its venom to immobilise small mammals, nestlings and lizards. A bite is unlikely to pose much risk to humans except for the very young, ill or aged. The affected area around the bite may become inflamed and hurt and you may experience some nausea or dizziness. Fatalities from adder bites are exceptionally rare with the last in Britain occurring in 1975, when a five-year-old was bitten on the ankle. Between 1950 and 1972 there was only one death caused by an adder bite across England and Wales. During the same period there were 61 deaths from bees and wasps which puts the risk from an adder bite into perspective.

The NHS advice is that most snake bites in the UK are not serious. However, it’s important to get all snake bites checked as soon as possible.