Wyre Forest Study Group » Reptiles

Grass Snakes (Natrix natrix)

Rosemary Winnall — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:16:00 +0000

The Grass or Ringed Snake is the UK’s largest snake and they can still be found in Wyre, particularly near ponds and streams. They emerge from hibernation in March or April and mate in April or May. It is not easily to distinguish between the sexes, although the female grows longer than the male. Thy can live for 15 years.

They are good swimmers and have been observed swimming across the River Severn above Bewdley. They feed on young frogs and toads, newts and fish. The female sheds (sloughs) her skin before she lays between 5 and 40 eggs in a warm place such as a compost heap. These hatch between August and October prior to hibernation.

Slow-worms (Anguis fragilis)

Rosemary Winnall — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:49:40 +0000

Slow-worms are legless lizards, and not worms at all. They are common in Wyre. The males are generally of a uniform grey-brown, whereas the females are a reddish brown with darker flanks and a dark stripe down their backs.

They emerge from hibernation in March and mate in May or June. The females give birth to between 5 and 25 young in August or September. They are born in membranous sacs and are quite different in colour to the adults, being a golden yellow with darker back stripe.

They feed mainly on slugs and they spend much of their time underground in the soil. They can shed their tail and grow another in its place.

Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara)

Rosemary Winnall — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:56:07 +0000

The Common, or Viviparous Lizard, is commonly found in the Wyre Forest, especially in heathy habitat. The males have spotted patterning above, an orange underside with dark spots, and a tail that is longer than the body. The females usually have a conspicuous dark stripe down the back, a cream underside and a tail that is the same length as the body.

The lizards emerge from hibernation in February and March. After the males have shed their skins mating takes place, although the females do not give birth to between 3 and 10 young until July. They feed on spiders, butterflies, moths and grasshoppers.

Adder (Vipera berus)

Rosemary Winnall — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:27:28 +0000

The Adder population in the Wyre Forest has declined considerably in recent years and these reptiles are no longer as common as they once were. They may occasionally be seen basking in the spring sunshine. The males emerge from hibernation in February and the females between 2 and 6 weeks later. Both sexes bask in preparation for combat and mating after the males have shed their skins in April or May. They feed during the summer, preying normally on voles and mice. They return to their hibernacula when the weather cools in autumn.

They can live for over 20 years. The females give birth to live young, between 3 and 12 in number in late summer or early autumn, although they do not breed every year. The adder is the UK’s only venomous snake, so they should not be approached.