Adders

Some tourists will be curious as to whether the UK is home to any reptiles. The answer is yes, there are several species to be found, including snakes. The adder is the only venomous snake that is native to the United Kingdom. They are found all over the country and are predominant in many diverse nature reserves.

What They Look Like

An adder has an easily identifiable appearance. The European adder has a zig-zag pattern on its skin that resembles a diamond. The females tend to be a reddish shade of brown, whereas the males usually have a grey coloured body.

They can be found in both woodland areas and the open countryside. You will have more luck finding them in the south of England than the north. During spring they can be found hibernating. This is the best time of the year to see them in their natural habitat.

Their Venom

Some people might be put off by their venomous bite but this is nothing to fear. Adders are not aggressive to humans. In fact they are known for being very shy creatures. They rarely bite unless provoked and even in this event their venom can be treated with hospital care.