A SNAKE which can grow up to two metres long has begun to establish itself in parts of the UK.
Successfully breeding pairs of Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus) have been discovered in various areas – including Bridgend, Colwyn Bay and London’s Regents Park.
The Aesculapian would have been a common site 300,000 years ago, but the last Ice Age largely wiped them out. The population slowly recovered and eventually grew to become a common sight across northern Europe, but not in the British Isles.
However, some snakes displayed at Welsh Mountain Zoo escaped into the wild during the 1970s, leading to establishment in Colwyn Bay and Bridgend. The origin of the reptiles in Regent Park is currently unknown, although it is believed it may have arisen through escapees from a private collection.
Scientists at Bournemouth University have been studying their populations over the years in order to understand how the snakes are surviving in the UK.
Dr Tom Major, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Animal Biotelemetry, is leading the research.
His team tracked 13 males and eight females throughout 2021 and 2022 in order to gain an insight into how the creatures were surviving winter.
The study has not yet undergone a peer review, but the early indication is that the Aesculapian are making use of “attics and wall cavities of houses” to maintain survival temperatures.
It also found that the males were more likely to winter in buildings and man-made structures, whereas the females had a preference for woodland.
“For snakes, anthropogenic structures such as buildings and culverts provide shelter, thermoregulatory opportunities and egg-laying sites,” the scientist said.
“We observed Aesculapian snakes actively seeking and returning to use inhabited buildings and were observed climbing large structures to access the attics and wall cavities of houses.”
The UK has only three species of native snakes – the adder, grass snake and smooth snake.
Adder (Vipera berus):
The UK’s only venomous snake, the adder can often be spotted in early spring when it emerges from hibernation to bask on a rock or warm heathland.
It can be easily identified by the dark zig-zag pattern along the top of its body. Adults usually grow to about 60cms in length.
Although venomous, bites are quite rare, as the adder will only attack if provoked or – as in most adder bite cases – when stood on. Bites can be painful – often described as being like a bee sting – and it is advised to seek medical attention if you have been bitten by an adder.
They hunt small mammals like mice and ground-nesting birds, or will seek out amphibious creatures like frogs, newts and toads. Females give birth to up to 20 live young after incubating eggs internally.
The adder is widespread in the UK, but is not found in Ireland.
Grass snake (Natrix natrix)
The grass snake is Britain’s largest native snake.
It feeds almost exclusively on amphibians, but will also take small mammals and birds.
It’s diet is the reason why it is often found near wetlands, ponds, lakes and rivers. They can be difficult to spot in grass, which is why most sightings are of them undertaking their favourite pastime – swimming.
Both males and females have a greenish body with pale underside and yellow or black collar, with darker markings on their flanks. The male is distinctly smaller than the female.
Grass snakes are common throughout England and Wales, but are not found in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Scilly and the Channel Islands – with the exception of Jersey.
Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)
Often confused with an adder, the smooth snake is a rare find on only a handful of heathland areas of southern England where it enjoys a sandy habitat.
Although similar in appearance to the adder, it has no distinctive zigzag pattern.
Harmless to humans, this constrictor is a lethal predator of sand lizards, slow-worms and chicks.
If handled, it will almost certainly strike. However, it only uses its bite as a deterrent as it is non-venomous.
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