Allotments 4 All

Just found a baby adder in the garden :o Do you think mummy adder might be around as I am about to clear a couple of large compost heaps. The thought of a adult adder loose in the garden make me think I might leave it for another day.

Are you sure it's an adder and not a grass snake? Or even a sloworm? (Sorry if you've already thought of that)

It's just apparently adders are rarely found in gardens, whereas grass snakes and sloworms are.

Is there any way you could leave the compost heaps till spring? I think their eggs hatch (grass snakes) in autumn and sloworms have babies around Aug, and then various creatures hibernate in compost heaps.

Just a thought  :)

I'd echo what pigeonseed said. Adders are usually very shy creatures. Can't ever imagine finding one in a garden. Usually the only thing you know of them is a rustling in the heather as they get out of your way. I was lucky enough to see one once, in adder country, and my sighting lasted about 2 seconds. I grew up traipsing adder country. One of the reasons you never see me without boots on. Old habits die hard. No adders on the streets of Grangemouth though! Anyway....rambling.  ::)

What does your garden back onto? If it's moorland or such then I'd be more concerned. Either way mummy can be shyed away with lots of noise and activity. Beating the more densly vegetated parts of garden extensively with a stick/rake/hoe will probably scare the bejesus out of it and make it seek a less dangerous proposition for a home. Remember adders use their venom to hunt, not to attack, unless they are cornered. They prefer evasion to aggression.

Whatever course of action you choose, that's entirely up to you. Personally, I wouldn't be worried as long as I had stout wellies on and used a long implement to either move the compost or beat. But, like I say, up to you.

Shame you never had a camera, if it was one. They are the most beautiful of the reptiles in the UK in my opinion. 

When my OH  saw the snake he said he thought it was an adder ::) I then googled the for a photo of
baby adder and came up with this http://www.flickr.com/photos/28024025@N06/5780791358/     ::) ::)
Shame I didn't read the bottom comment at the time ::)

Phew I now realise it was a grass snake ;D Thanks  for the replies it made me double check.

Gordon my garden is bounded by fields on all sides. I have had deer, a hare. lizards, otter ect so wouldn't have been to surprised to see a adder ;D

If it is a baby grass snake, it means that the brood has hatched an you should be alright to clear the compost heap. But if you do find any leathery white eggs in there, cover them up again and wait a month. It is illegal to disturb them deliberately.

Just saw this thread and joined to comment on it. We also have grass snakes currently hatching from our compost heap, and also at least one older snake which was sheltering within the heap while preparing to shed its skin.

It's quite likely that some of the hatchlings will remain in the heap over winter and then disperse in the spring, so if possible it would be best to leave the heap undisturbed if possible for the time being. The best time to disturb it is probably around April/May, when any overwintering snakes will be leaving and before adult females will be arriving to lay eggs in around June.

In reply to the previous post by ACE, it's not actually illegal to disturb them but they are protected against deliberate or reckless killing and injury. Either way, they are declining in the countryside and compost heaps in gardens/allotments are now important breeding sites for them, so I'd encourage you to look after them.

I managed to put my garden fork through a full-sized adder in my compost heap. Luckily I managed fling it off the tine and it snaked off somewhere else. This was a pity as we could do with something like this to keep mice and rats down.

Quote from: PondDragon on September 15, 2012, 11:50:30
Just saw this thread and joined to comment on it. We also have grass snakes currently hatching from our compost heap, and also at least one older snake which was sheltering within the heap while preparing to shed its skin.

It's quite likely that some of the hatchlings will remain in the heap over winter and then disperse in the spring, so if possible it would be best to leave the heap undisturbed if possible for the time being. The best time to disturb it is probably around April/May, when any overwintering snakes will be leaving and before adult females will be arriving to lay eggs in around June.

In reply to the previous post by ACE, it's not actually illegal to disturb them but they are protected against deliberate or reckless killing and injury. Either way, they are declining in the countryside and compost heaps in gardens/allotments are now important breeding sites for them, so I'd encourage you to look after them.

Nice response... if you'll excuse me saying so.

I'd love slow worms or grass snakes on my plot.... well worth looking after and maintaining their habitat.

Anyone want to swap some for a few foxes?   (That wasn't a serious question)

I had grass snakes in compost bin last year.  Saw the female often and then one day say a baby and that was the last I saw of them for months.