Wildlife

Slow Worm: Legless Lizard of Gardens and Grassland

Slow worms are common in gardens but are frequently mistaken for snakes and face welfare threats from strimming and cats.

Key Facts

Slow worms are legless lizards not snakes and can shed their tail as a defence
They can live over 50 years in captivity making them one of the longest-lived lizards
Slow worms are important predators of slugs and other garden pests
They give birth to live young and females can store sperm for several years
Slow worms require sunny grassland edges and undisturbed areas with invertebrate prey

Welfare Considerations

Slow worms face welfare threats from garden management including strimming that injures or kills basking animals. Cats kill significant numbers particularly in suburban gardens. Compost heaps are favourite sheltering and breeding sites that can be disturbed during turning. Road mortality affects animals crossing roads between gardens and wild areas. Pesticide use in gardens reduces the slug and invertebrate prey they depend on.

What You Can Do

Check compost heaps before turning especially in spring and autumn
Use a manual strimmer guard to protect slow worms in long grass areas
Reduce cat impact by keeping cats indoors or using cat deterrents in reptile areas
Create south-facing sunny banks in gardens as basking habitat
Submit slow worm sightings to local recording groups to contribute to population monitoring