Slow Worm Welfare: Britain's Legless Lizard

Slow worms (Anguis fragilis) are legless lizards widely distributed across the UK, with welfare threatened by garden hazards, persecution, and habitat management practices.

Key Facts

Slow worms are lizards, not snakes — they have eyelids and can shed their tail
Widespread but declining due to habitat loss and persecution
Commonly found in gardens under corrugated iron, compost heaps, and log piles
Cat predation in gardens is a significant welfare and mortality factor
Slow worms are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act

Welfare Considerations

Slow worm welfare in garden habitats is affected by cat predation, strimming and mowing, and the removal of habitat features that provide refugia. Gardens can be important slow worm habitat if managed sympathetically. Cat predation causes direct mortality and chronic stress in slow worm populations in garden environments. Composting, grass-cutting, and garden tidying all carry risk of injuring or killing slow worms that shelter in warm substrate. Providing specific refugia (corrugated iron sheets, log piles) both benefits slow worm welfare and provides monitoring opportunities.

What You Can Do

Place corrugated iron or roofing felt squares in sheltered garden spots as refugia
Check compost heaps carefully before turning to avoid injuring slow worms
Manage grass and vegetation carefully to avoid cutting slow worms
Keep cats indoors around dawn and dusk when slow worms are most active
Report slow worm sightings to the ARC and local wildlife groups