Reptile survey yields loads of adders!

The reptile population continues to thrive on our sand dunes. In our latest survey, we found nine adders and five slow worms. These normally elusive animals can be attracted by a piece of roofing felt, which creates a warm microclimate in which they like to shelter.

Adders and slow worms give birth to live young, and this may explain why most of the animals we found were female. They may have a more urgent need to keep warm during pregnancy.

Our ongoing program of habitat management benefits these animals by maintaining a varied habitat, with plenty of places to hide and open areas for basking and hunting.