Wildlife

UK Adder Conservation and Basking Site Management

Conservation of the adder, the UK's only venomous snake, and welfare implications of management and persecution.

Key Facts

Adder populations have declined significantly in England and Wales in recent decades
Warm south-facing banks and open woodland edges with bracken are preferred habitat
Adders are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Illegal persecution including killing remains a significant mortality factor
Spring basking in communal aggregations is essential for warming after hibernation

Welfare Considerations

Adders face welfare risks from illegal killing and disturbance of basking sites, with habitat management and public education being the primary welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Never harm or disturb adders - they are legally protected
Report adder persecution to police wildlife crime units
Support reptile conservation through Amphibian and Reptile Conservation