![]() In fact, the ARC are actively encouraging the public to register their adder sightings with them to get a greater picture of the population of this endangered species.Īccording to the ARC Trust, snake populations are declining across the UK and gardens can be an important wildlife corridor between disappearing habitats. Chances of actually seeing one are really quite slim. Its shy nature and camouflage means they often go unnoticed. In most of their range, adders rarely enter gardens. But they also like to stay close to long grass and shrubs to slither away and hide if they feel threatened.Īdders like open habitats such as heathland, moorland, open woodland and sea cliffs, typically on free-draining soils such as chalk or sand. They enjoy the sunshine and can often be seen out on summer days. But they also need dense cover to take shelter.ĭuring the summer months they can be seen on beaches, moorlands, open woodland and sea cliffs as they search for the best places to catch the sun. The adders need open areas of land where they can bask in the sun. The 18 North Wales beaches awarded Blue Flag status for 2019. ![]() Which in turn makes parts of North Wales the perfect habitat for these native snakes. Places such as sand dunes and lowland heath - gorse, bracken and heather landscapes are all favourable spots for the adder. More often than not they will hear you coming and will hide before you get chance. It's actually really rare to spot an adder in the wild. There are also a handful of known adder sites in Denbighshire and Flintshire. Places such as Anglesey and the Gwynedd coastline in particular the Llyn Peninsula, have a well recorded and widespread distribution of the snakes - not just from monitoring but also from public sightings. Due to their elusive nature and declining numbers, official figures can be skewed.īut Adders can still found in hotspots around the whole of Wales with several populations recorded in North Wales. The adder is the UK's only venomous snake (Image: PA)ĭata is quite sparse regarding the species. Increases in human activity and changes of land-use are all affecting the numbers in North Wales and beyond.ĭisturbances ranging from people inadvertently trampling vegetation, to off-lead dogs disturbing the adders and people getting too close trying to photograph them are all having a negative impact on the adder populations. "There are places on Anglesey where you could easily see a dozen adders in the morning, but where you’d now be lucky to see three or four." Wolfgang Wüster, Senior Lecturer at School of Natural Sciences at Bangor University said: "Adders across the UK are in serious decline, and from my observations, many populations in North Wales are very much part of that trend.
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