Snakes in the Forest of Dean: March 2013

Saturday, 30 March 2013

1st Adder of 2013 - At Long Last!

It has felt like and age and I was starting to think that the winter weather was never going to leave (well the Forest of Dean anyway).
Then, on Saturday 30th March the sun came out and for a change I wasn't at work, so with Scott Passmore (GlosARG compatriot), I grabbed the camera and headed to our first of three survey areas for the day.
Within 10 minuets of being at the first sight we found our first adder (Vipera berus) of 2013!

GlosARG 1st Adder of 2013

Unfortunately, this was the last sighting in this area and this was disappointing as this is by far, one of the best areas that we know of.

The other two sites were fruitless, but as we didn't see any lizards of slow-worms either, the lad in the photo above must be the rebel of the area as he was last to go in and first to come out!

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GlosARG Website HERE

Rob

Admire Our Snakes

Snakes have been persecuted since man first stepped foot on this planet. They are severely misunderstood and this is one reason why I have chosen to look after them in my area.
When I am up close with our snakes, I see their true beauty and can't imagine why anyone would want to harm them.
I understand that certain people have phobias, but there are also a lot of people that believe snakes are pests and should be destroyed. This is wrong as all snakes in the UK will avoid conflict at all costs and the adder will only strike at a human in self defence.

I hope my photographs and stories of my encounters will help everyone see this magnificent creature in the way it is meant to be seen.
Essential and beautiful.

The Adder and Grass Snake are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, Schedule 5, from Trade, Injury and Killing.