Adders
ADDERS CONSERVATION STATUS:
- Least concern.
- Protected in the UK under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
- Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.
HABITAT: Adders prefer woodland, moorland and heathland. They can sometimes be spotted basking in the sun rays in open woodlands.
IMPORTANCE: Adders are very sensitive to disturbance and so they can be used as an early indicator of environmental degradation. As both predator and prey, they are also playing an important role in any food chain.
THREATS: Adder populations in the UK are declining due to habitat loss through intensive farming. This has left their populations fragmented.
FUN FACTS: They prefer their own space and very rarely bite keep watching your distance! If picked up or otherwise provoked, their venom can pack a powerful punch, and even kill overly enthusiastic dogs!