23/06/2026
Nature Recovery Strategy Species Spotlight! 💚
🐍 Adders (Vipera berus) are lovers of basking in the sunshine or under a warm rock, which is why they're one of the easier wildlife to step on unintentionally...
📍Found across mainland UK, they are one of only three snakes found here, and only Grass Snakes and Adders can be seen in Cornwall.
🔍 Adders are shy creatures, but look closely and you might spot them in our grasslands, heath and moorland, coastal wildbelt and woodlands.
📉 Adders are in significant decline due to disturbance and pressure on their habitats, like over-grazing that reduces the grass cover they need to hunt and hide from predators.
❤️🩹 Adders will often hibernate together in the same places each winter - meaning communities are vulnerable to being wiped out in groups by mowing or strimming.
Adders are the only venomous snake we have, but prefer to avoid humans and pets. For many a bite would be painful but not cause issues, but can be dangerous for the very young, ill or old. If bitten, seek medical attention immediately.
💡 How can you help?
- Spread awareness of Adders and keep to existing paths (dogs particularly) to reduce disturbance.
- Create varied habitat mosaics across the wider landscape with scrub and heathland, and make sure habitat management takes adders into account.
- Make better habitat connectivity through Cornish Hedges and field buffer strips.
Check out more actions, species and priorities in the Nature Recovery Strategy and Focus Species Recovery Toolkit!
👉 https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/hub-page/naturerecoverystrategy
👉 https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/focus-species-recovery-toolkit
Photo © Derrick Whurr ()
Cornwall Council Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK - ARG UK
