Addering Up?

It was mentioned today on BBC Radio 4 that UK adders (Vipera berus) are emerging from hibernation at least a month earlier than usual. The commentator (who had written a book on this viper) suggested that climate change caused this early emergence and might be partly responsible for a marked decline in the UK's only poisonous snake. This seems unlikely, as Vipera berus has the widest geographical range of any snake. Adders are found from the Arctic circle to Southern Italy. Their range includes Wales' Gower peninsula, where my pictures were taken. Climate change would only reduce the snake's need to hibernate in its current fragmented locations (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/reptiles-and-amphibians/adder/). It's much more likely that the adder's decline is linked to profound habitat loss. A real problem for the snake, is the rearing of Pheasants for shooting. Shooting estates are often set up on bracken-covered land favoured by adders. Pheasants kill and eat adders (especially the young versions). It would be a great pity to lose this interesting beast. Adult male adder wrestle to compete for access to females. The females per se are ovoviparous, impressively producing live young. Baby adders often feed on frog tadpoles. Mature adders mainly feed on small rodents, using a poison about as toxic as bee venom (there is, of course, a bigger volume than a bee can produce). These secretive vipers are certainly not 'out to get' people or their dogs. People and dogs are only bitten, if they tread on a basking snake, which has no means of detecting sound. In spite of their shy natures, adders, unfortunately, get a very bad press.